2010 elections

Two Virginia Dems Go Down -- And It Could Get Worse

Eric Kleefeld | November 2, 2010, 8:56PM

Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA)

It's looking like a bloodbath tonight for Virginia Democrats, with two incumbent Congressmen already going down to defeat -- and possibly more on the way.

The Associated Press reports that Democratic Rep. Rick Boucher of VA-09, who was first elected in 1982, has lost re-election to Republican Morgan Griffith in this southwest Virginia district, after many years of its voters splitting their ticket between Boucher and Republican candidates.

Meanwhile, freshman Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello (D) of VA-05, who upset Republican incumbent Virgil Goode in 2008, has lost to Republican Robert Hurt.

That's not all: Two other freshman Dems, Glenn Nye and Gerry Connolly, both of whom picked up seats from the Republicans in 2008, are currently trailing in their seats. With 44% of precincts reporting in VA-02, Nye trails Republican Scott Rigell by 53%-43%. In VA-11, Connolly trails his 2008 Republican opponent Keith Fimian by a narrower 50%-48%, with 30% of precincts reporting.

Late Update: ABC and CBS have called VA-02 for Rigell. That's three Democrats losing in Virginia, with a possible fourth on the way.

Dave Bartholomew

Racist Email Flap Blows Up Virginia Beach GOP

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 20, 2010, 8:36AM

Fmr. Virginia Beach Republican Party Chairman David Bartholomew

Virginia Beach is the biggest city in Virginia, and the hometown of the state's current Republican Governor, Bob McDonnell. Now it's also home to the latest example of a racist email forward destroying a prominent conservative's political credibility and possibly career.

As the progressive Blue Virgina blog reported Monday -- and I independently confirmed from one of the recipients Tuesday -- Virginia Beach Republican Party chair Dave Bartholomew forwarded a racist email comparing African Americans to dogs. The email, subject line "my, dog," consists of a racist parable about African Americans and welfare. In the first 24 hours since the email came to light, Democrats condemned Bartholomew and he resigned his position with the Republican Party.

The text of the message, in full:

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2010 elections

The Top 5 Republicans Who Think The Tea Partiers Are Bad News

Christina Bellantoni | July 16, 2010, 11:49AM

A tea party really with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) and Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) inset.

Maybe it's just sour grapes, but sure seems like a lot of Republicans are hating on the tea party these days. Spurned GOPers ousted in primaries have been the most vocal, but even candidates who tried to court the tea party are criticizing the approach of the populist movement.

Whether it's because they feel liberated (or because, as some tea partiers have suggested, maybe they are liberals at heart), here's TPM's roundup of the Top Five Republicans who have spoken ill of the movement in recent weeks.

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VA-02

VA GOPer To GOP Opponent: How Dare You Take Cash For Clunkers Money! (VIDEO)

Ben Frumin | April 30, 2010, 5:09PM

VA-2 candidate Scott Rigell

A pair of Republicans battling for the chance to take on Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA) in this fall's general election are caught up in a full-blown intra-party war over stimulus funds accepted by each of their businesses.

It started when it came to light that Republican candidate Scott Rigell, who owns a car dealership, sold 107 cars under the federal Cash for Clunkers program. His dealership then submitted requests for $444,500 in reimbursements from the federal government.

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