It was a really dumb time to allow certain incumbents to go unopposed. Both Delegate Albo and Loudon County Commonwealth's Attorney lost substantial votes to write-in candidates... though both won re-election, it is clear that an effective candidate on the ballot in those races would have put the races in contention quite easily.
Write-in campaigns dramatically slow down the counting process. It was after midnight before reliable returns began getting reported from Loudon county, which had many of us on pins and needles well into the night.
Money can buy many races, but clearly there are limits. While money probably bought several races around the state, it is also clear that despite vast money differences, some races are still won by people. Chap Peterson, Stevens Miller, Susan Buckley all won despite enormously unequal spending.
We must have a precinct by precinct ground game with better logistics at each polling place.
I am hugely happy we won the state senate, but we should have picked up more seats. We should have picked up more in the house too. Prince William is a sad, sad disappointment.
And we will.
I do not know either of them very well.
I have met and had to listen to Vic Bras a lot.
I am not sure I could pick Matt Harrison out of a line up...
So take anything I say with a grain of salt... make that a shaker.
My perception, someing from someone new to county activities, is that Vic was a highly motivated and hard working Democrat dedicated to the same core values we all share, but that he talked so much when given the mike or pulpet that he turned people off and depressed turnout. Frankly, I think turnout and activism might be improved now that more young people can participate.
I am convinced that some of this was out of our control. More and more suburban fiscal conservatives moved out here recently, many of them are regular voters, but they don't know yet who the people on the ballot are. Those people voted GOP party line not realizing that the people on PWC ballots with an R next to their names want nothing to do with GOP party lines, and they have more to do with neo-con agendas. Eventually those same voters will realize and vote for mainstream candidates regardless of party... but it takes a few years before they become engaged in their communities out here. Many of them spend 3 hours a day commuting... they don't have time to carefully research their votes.
Additionally, the whako contingent did an excellent and admirable job of turning out their depressed and fearful wing-nut voters. Damn their efficiency. We must get people engaged in their communities.