Chap Petersen Strongly Endorses Leslie Byrne for Congress!
By: Lowell
Published On: 11/29/2007 10:39:59 AM
This is a huge endorsement for Leslie Byrne. With former Leslie Byrne rival Chap Petersen backing Leslie Byrne for Congress, it's very hard to see how she's not going to be the Democratic nominee next year in the 11th district. Chap's statement is not just pro-forma, it's strong!
"I have known Leslie Byrne for many years. We served together in the Virginia General Assembly. She is a great voice for working families..
A couple years ago, Leslie and I competed for the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor. We had some lively debates which was healthy for us and the party. The thing I always respected about Leslie was that she told it straight no matter the audience. She gave the same answer in Halifax that she did in Fairfax. That type of integrity is rare in politics.
A year later, Leslie and I were two of the first Virginia Democrats to support Jim Webb. Leslie's endorsement gave enormous credibility to Jim's maverick candidacy. It is no exaggeration to say that her leadership at a crucial stage helped turn Virginia and the U.S. Senate blue.
Leslie is seeking office for all the right reasons. She represents the core principles of the Democratic Party. I am proud to endorse her candidacy for U.S. Congress.
I wanted to get involved early in this primary because it is very important that the Democratic Party is united as soon as possible in replacing Tom Davis with a voice that represents real change in the 11th Congressional District."
Exactly, "real change in the 11th Congressional District" is exactly what we need. And we're certainly not going to get that from Tom Davis, just like we're not going to get it from Frank Wolf in the 10th.
P.S. This is pretty much all the information I need to make a personal decision on this race. I am very impressed with newcomer Doug Denneny, and I consider Andy Hurst to be a friend, but Leslie Byrne is exactly what we need at this time in the 11th CD. I'm excited to support her, and will have more on my thinking later...
Comments
Go Leslie! (The Grey Havens - 11/29/2007 10:51:12 AM)
Leslie will have massive support and turnout to fight for this seat. She's the right woman for Virginia now, and it's about time we kicked Tom Davis out.
Send Leslie back to congress - a woman's place is in the House.
Endorsement (Leslie Byrne - 11/29/2007 11:19:31 AM)
Thank you Chap and Thank you Lowell. I am proud to have you both on board. Great News to start the day! Regards, Leslie
Netroots appear to be getting in line behind Leslie (DanG - 11/29/2007 12:38:56 PM)
More and more bloggers are supporting Leslie Byrne for the nomination everyday. Pretty safe to say that the netroots are gonna come out strong for her on election day.
Will Gerry even bother getting in now? I mean, seriously. The activist base, aka the people who vote in primaries, are gonna be out for Leslie in large numbers.
Bloggers for Byrne... n/t (Ingrid - 11/29/2007 12:40:47 PM)
Netroots are important (Afton Dem - 11/29/2007 12:47:49 PM)
But I think its safe to say that Gerry will make his decision based on other criteria as well, and that there are plenty of activists in the 11th who would back Gerry should he decide to run for Congress.
If Leslie wants to keep others out of this race, she had better raise some serious money. Expectations will be high, and serious folks will be looking at her financial reports for this quarter. She's been raising money for months, and good results will go a long way. Bad results will have the exact opposite effect.
Agreed (Lowell - 11/29/2007 1:39:59 PM)
n/t
Nothing against Leslie (Eric - 11/29/2007 3:28:08 PM)
but I'd like to hear more from a few others before making a decision.
Despite the fact that he lost last time, I thought Andy Hurst would make a great congressman - hopefully he'll be making a decision soon. We may be considering him in this mix.
And a few days ago we had Doug Denneny, who is already a candidate, on RK doing a live blog. We should be seeing more about the differences between Doug and Leslie soon - and hopefully it'll be constructive rather than destructive.
However, if it's just between Leslie and Gerry, I've already made my choice: it's Byrne all the way.
She (leftofcenter - 11/29/2007 2:29:49 PM)
is the VERY best. Terrific union supporter. She will get all the union endorsements in the state.
I know she represented this district for a term (jiacinto - 11/29/2007 2:49:18 PM)
but she's lost every other race that she's run except for state senate. Part of me wants someone new.
A perfectly respectable sentiment... (JMU Duke - 11/29/2007 3:35:23 PM)
but it was that same sentiment that brought us Ken Longmeyer and Andy Hurst...this is a huge opportunity to take this seat and put a nail in the coffin of the NoVa Republican party. Other years it might have been the right idea to grow the party in a race against a popular incumbent, but things are changing fast and this go 'round we need to put the starters on the field. Leslie has 20 years worth of experience and organization and she will be our best shot to beat Tom Davis.
Lots of people lose elections (Lowell - 11/29/2007 4:10:33 PM)
For instance, Chap Petersen lost by a wide margin when he ran for the Lt. Governor nomination in 2005. Should he not have run again? Greg Werkheiser lost to Dave Albo in 2005, should he not run again? Jay Donahue, Rex Simmons, Connie Brennan, Al Pollard, Michael Breiner, Eric Ferguson, all lost this year, should none of them run again? That makes no sense at all.
Don't forget John Foust (Hiker Joe - 11/29/2007 7:29:10 PM)
He lost to Joan Dubois in 2003 then ran again this year and knocked her off. Leslie is the best candidate and one of whom all Democrats can be proud. I certainly plan to support her.
I didn't say that or anything like it (JMU Duke - 11/30/2007 10:30:00 AM)
My point was more in the direction of Doug Denneny. Remember the commenter desired "someone new." None of those guys are new, so I doubt that would fit the standard either. I have no problem with multiple candidacies, and I think Andy Hurst should run if he thinks he can win, as should the rest of that litany. Obviously, in my support of Leslie I am endorsing the idea of multiple runs.
I support Leslie, and not "someone new" because she has the organization in place to get this done. The labor unions and Chap! are making my point by making their endorsements so early.
Are you replying to (Lowell - 11/30/2007 10:30:55 AM)
jiacinto?
If Gerry's gonna get in... (Kindler - 11/29/2007 9:30:45 PM)
...he best get in quick. Leslie is starting to run away with endorsements and momentum is the lifeblood of politics.
If Connolly's going to get in... (Hiker Joe - 11/29/2007 10:01:44 PM)
He better have an ethics transplant. Gerry Connolly is the most ethically challenged Democrat I know of, aside from William Jefferson (D-LA) who was found with $90,000 cash in his freezer.
Connolly better also have a personality transplant. He is a bully who uses his position to intimidate people for no better reason than that he can.
Leslie Byrne has class, represents the core values of the Democratic Party and leaves Connolly in her dust. As a Democrat, I am confident that I will never be ashamed of Leslie. I cannot say the same of Mr. Connolly.