TPMDC
Laura Ingraham Picks Sides In VA-05 - Against Primary Candidate She Says Is Too Moderate
Laura Ingraham
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Talk radio personality and darling of the right Laura Ingraham has a message to deliver in the intra-party feud in Virginia's fifth district: Republicans can't defeat Rep. Tom Perriello with a "middle of the road" candidate.
"Republicans on Capitol Hill still haven't gotten it through their heads," Ingraham said on a recent show before introducing her guest, Republican candidate Laurence Verga.
In the Dec. 7 interview the radio host called Verga "the man who is the conservative in this important primary."
TPMDC told you this month there are seven contenders vying for the nomination to challenge the embattled freshman Democrat.
But the favorite is state Sen. Robert Hurt, who has been derided by conservative tea party types because he supported a $1.4 billion tax increase under then-Gov. Mark Warner (D) in 2004.
On her show, Ingraham blasted Hurt as "hand-selected" by the National Republican Congressional Committee - which won't make an official endorsement - and asked them to think conservative.
"Who is the best person to defeat a Democrat in the state of Virginia? It is someone who is middle of the road ... [who will] work with the Democrats ... get some compromise ...
or is it a conservative?" Ingraham asked.
Verga's campaign posted a mashup of the audio on his YouTube page, spliced together with scenes of the two candidates speaking at a Virginia event and his own quote, "Laura Ingraham considers me the conservative front runner for this race because I am a fighter."
Late Update: After we posted it, the video has been removed. If you have a copy, let us know.
From our transcript, the video showed both Verga and Hurt, with Verga going after Perriello. Hurt said he looks forward to convincing party members that he is the best candidate to beat the Democrat.
"I'm very proud of my conservative record," Hurt says after Verga complains about his tax vote.
The radio show transcript here.
Later Update: Turns out the video was only down thanks to a technical glitch.
Here it is:
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USgreentech
December 22, 2009 4:22 PM
1220 Emerald Dr. Lemont, IL, 60439.
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USgreentech
December 22, 2009 4:24 PM
Laura Ingraham communicates in English or ill mannered hogwash.
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AG
December 23, 2009 9:41 AM
Perriello seems to be in a stronger position than many might think. He has the support of many moderate and Independent voters in the District who have applauded his work ethic, knowledge of policy, and independent approach to legislation. One of the 7 GOP candidates who is a TP activist has already said they will run as a 3rd party candidate should they not win the GOP nomination. And it is less likely that a TB supported candidate will win the GOP nomination since the 5th District GOP just decided to pick the candidate in an open primary format in stead of a caucus. Thus there will be a larger pool of voters and a lower % of TP activists.
What Perriello seems to need is support from all those moderate and Independent voters around the country who appreciate an elected official who works hard, is willing to be independent, and has a tremendous knowledge of the issues. The bottom line is Perriello seems to be one of the most talented elected officials in politics in either party.
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Marinus van der Lubbe
December 23, 2009 10:59 AM
Here in Virginia we're still upset that Perriello has stonewalled on moving his office to let lazy local tea-baggers have better access and ease to protest him. How rude not to move to an area also closer to a PopEye's Fried Chicken or a Hardee's so they can also stop and hang out for lunch after a tough day caterwalling and running around in Minnie Pearl hats with bags hanging off them. That has to be an expenditure of energy there.
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