Weed campaign press release. I’m too sick for analysis; y’all do it.
Al Weed dominated the day on Saturday by gathering nineteen delegates while his opponent only secured one. With a total of twenty-two delegates up for grabs in Fluvanna, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, and Cumberland counties, Super-Saturday was a must win. Weed supporters responded with vigor. Al’s overwhelming victory increased his lead in the delegate count to twenty-five to five.
Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, and Cumberland counties were able to cancel their scheduled caucuses as Al’s opponent again had no supporters file as delegates. In Fluvanna County, the only caucus of the day, supporters for the Nelson County farmer once again dominated the room taking home five delegates.
“I am pleased at this latest step toward the nominating convention in May. It is great to have such support all across the district,” Weed said. Commenting on the growing campaign he continued, “Our friends and volunteers have worked hard in these counties preparing for the caucuses. I would like to thank everyone for their dedication. We are building some great momentum here.”
Weed is confident the momentum will carry through the weekend and into Mega-Monday, where ten jurisdictions will elect a total of 113 delegates. The final three jurisdictions will elect their combined thirty-nine delegates on Saturday, April 29th. All of the 200 delegates will travel to Buckingham County on May 20th to make the nomination official at the 5th District Democratic Convention.
I hear that there were caucuses in which there wasn’t even anyone who tried to be a delegate for Bern Ewart. This is just plain bad organizing. Between Bern’s inability to recruit people to at least stand as delegates for him and his huge screw-up with missing the filing deadline for his financials, we’re looking at a candidate who just isn’t ready for prime-time.
Running for Congress when you’ve never run for any other office is tougher than people think. Especially in a district as geographically challenging as the 5th. It’s just not an easy place to cut your teeth as a candidate.
I hope that Bern takes what he learned and runs for office again. Myself, I *really* wish he had run for City Council again, since Julian Taliaferro is the laziest, most useless candidate I have seen in Charlottesville for at least 6 years. He’s just not campaigning at all and has done nothing to deserve a single vote. Including mine. Dave Norris is carrying him right now, but it won’t be enough to unseat Rob Schilling. Bern would have made a better candidate and brought the kind of business-like voice to Council that we really lack at the moment. This is a seat that he could have won.
Pending a separate story on today’s caucuses: I just got back from the Albemarle County caucus, with the largest number of delegates up for grabs in the 5th District. Totals: Al Weed, 31 delegates; Bern Ewert, 6 delegates; uncommitted, 1 delegate.
At the Charlottesville caucus, Al got 12 delegates and Bern got 5.
Of the 7 Caucuses I have heard about thus far (all but Bedford’s 9 delegates and Prince Edward’s 6) Al took 67, bringing his total to 92.
Of the other 31, at least 11 are definitely for Bern and 1 is definitely uncommitted, bringing their minimum-verifiable-totals to 16 apiece, and leaving 19 non-Al delegates selected, of whose affiliation I am not aware. Bern could have up to 35, with only 16 uncommitted, or he could have 16 with 35 uncommitted. Anybody?
Michael – you have more news than anything I’ve seen posted yet. Thanks for the update, and the nice speech on Al’s behalf last night at the C’ville Caucus.
People, pay attention, this is important: Al’s campaign did a great job at getting its people out in big numbers.
This makes me optimistic about the general election: This is the kind of organizing we will need to win.
Michael, I was at Albemarle ( I am a delegate), but I went to your blog, great speech.
I am sure it was more exciting than my non-caucus on Saturday. I am now looking forward to the convention, and we can get on to the race for November!
I read your blog, Michael, great job, butterflies and all. I am sure the next time won’t be as bad, and the next after that….I remember a speech I had to give (as President) in front of parents at a PTA meeting in the mid-90’s; I was terrified. I am still, but not nearly as much. Keep up the good work.
Good work all around from the Weed Campaign.