Webb: 14,231; Miller: 13,425
By: Lowell
Published On: 4/14/2006 5:45:50 PM
My sources tell me that the Webb for Senate campaign turned in 14,231 petition signatures, nearly 1,000 more than Harris Miller's 13,425. Even better, the Webb campaign did it 99% with volunteers (there was a coordinator the past couple of weeks in the office), while the Miller people relied overwhelmingly on hired guns to get the job done. Also, Miller started a lot earlier than Webb, making this an even more impressive margin. At this point, could it be any more obvious which campaign has the popular support, and which one has the insider connections and $$$ out the wazoo? (by the way, does anyone know what a wazoo is?) :)
Comments
Wonder (Alicia - 4/14/2006 5:48:57 PM)
How much it cost Miller? $10,000? $15,000? More?
GREAT NEWS for Webb!!
Definitely more. (DemTilDeath - 4/14/2006 6:36:51 PM)
Almost all of Miller's signatures came from his hired firm. If the company was paying the person on the street $1.50 per signature, when expenses for hiring these signature gatherers and coordinating their efforts is added in plus the profit for the company, it had to cost Miller closer to $3.00 a signature. Could even have been more.
But the real issue here isn't money. It's that by conducting a statewide volunteer effort, Webb's team has helped establish a very strong and unified grassroots base who have reached out to their friends and neighbors to get them to sign for Webb. That's going to have a LOT more impact on the outcome of this race than the $30,000 or so Miller must have paid out of his treasure trove. The Webb volunteers are motivated, organized, and ready to go. That's huge.
Means Nothing (Too Conservative - 4/14/2006 10:44:38 PM)
As much as everyone likes to think this means something..we all know it doesnt.
George Fitch and Sean Connaughton turned in signatures before their opponents...
Much ado about......... (thegools - 4/14/2006 11:07:05 PM)
I would have to agree to a degree with TC. The key is both are on the ballot, beyond that what matters is who gets more votes on June 13th. As much as I think Webb will win & should win. It is still a ways off. ...the game's not over... the fat lady hasn't sung...etc. etc. etc. etc.....
Not impressed with grassroots, eh? (DemTilDeath - 4/14/2006 11:39:10 PM)
I agree that someone getting signatures in a few hours or even a few days doesn't matter much, but if you're saying that having a well oiled, volunteer machine in place is insignificant, I'll have to disagree. That is a very significant thing.
Time vs. Support (Josh - 4/15/2006 12:17:31 PM)
I think TC was saying that the fact that Miller dropped off his petitions first doesn't really matter. I can't possibly see what difference it makes.
Having a powerhouse volunteer base ready to do the heavy lifting to raise Webb to the US Senate is one of the most exciting and powerful things I've ever seen for a candidate.
We're going all the way.
Ballot Order (Neal2028 - 4/14/2006 5:58:13 PM)
Somebody said that whoever turns in petitions first is listed first. Is this correct, and if so, who is first?
Read Miller (Alicia - 4/14/2006 6:10:35 PM)
I read Miller was first, so he'll be first.
Out the Wazoo (Teddy - 4/14/2006 6:29:09 PM)
I heard that it was "up the Yazoo" as well as "out" and that it referred to a river in Texas during frontier days; if you were up the yazoo you were hell and gone out there. Well, it fits.
Has anyone been running a Due Diligence search on Mr. Miller, by the way? There's a pile of stuff. He's not exactly a shrinking violet, and much of the stuff seems to be indicating that he is, unfortuntely, completely a cheerleader for outsourcing, for importing H1-B and L visa tech workers to displace American tech workers, and otherwise engaged in the faciliatating of globalization, the loss of American jobs, the destruction of America's infrastructure/ industrial base, and so on. Ruthless, in fact, and not really a "high tech" exec but rather a lobbyist for high tech execs, who paid him very well indeed.
Regardless of one's view on the historical imperatives of globalization, there are national security concerns, and social-economic concerns that must be taken into consideration in evaluating whether or not he'd be a good Senator from Virginia, or just another same ol' same ol' politician whose loyalties do not always seem to be with his worker constituents, not to mention with America itself.
What's important is: (DanG - 4/14/2006 7:33:28 PM)
We collected more signatures than Harris Miller in much less time. Plus, we also did it without any paid organizations. We did this out of excitement for Jim Webb. It bodes well for Webb.
P.S.
You don't want to know what a "wazoo" is, Lowell. Trust me.
Hey, now I REALLY want to know! (Lowell - 4/14/2006 11:06:57 PM)
;)
I'm an outsider (Greg Bouchillon - 4/14/2006 10:28:40 PM)
But what's the big deal with being listed first on the ballot?
Not too big a deal (DanG - 4/14/2006 10:44:26 PM)
If there's nobody at the polling site when somebody goes into vote, and that person doesn't know who they're voting for, the first person on the ballot sometimes can have a slight advantage.
So how do we counter this? Webb has hundreds of volunteers. We send people out to polling sites and make sure we're campaigning until the polls close. If you have enough volunteers to do that, then positioning on the ballot means jack. That's what I expect it will mean come June 13th, jack. Webb will already have this nomination locked up.
a dumb ? (Adam Malle - 4/15/2006 12:39:36 AM)
Havinmg never voted in a primary before i would like to know where the polling places are. Dose DPVA set the sites or same as GE sites or what?
Webb supporters should get on that (DanG - 4/15/2006 12:46:43 AM)
I have no doubt we'll be informing people with a list of polling place as we get closer to June 13th. If I find a place with a list, I'll let you know. I'm pretty sure they're the same sites as the GE.
It's my understanding.... (Corey - 4/15/2006 9:39:22 AM)
Most sites will be the same. It is up to the local Board of elections to decide. With turnout so low in many primaries A FEW cities consolidate some of the smaller precincts. Usually, the first ones to be consolidated are the ones located at schools (so they do not have to close for a day for such a small amount of voters).
With that said, most localities do not change the precincts.
There should be a "Where do I vote" function on the SBE website. I would wait until closer to the primary to use it because it it still may reflect the general election voting locations.
From the Webb Campaign (Josh - 4/15/2006 12:13:45 PM)
Volunteer Effort Shows Widespread Support For Jim Webb
Jim Webb Submits Over 14,000 Signatures To Get Name On June 13th Primary Ballot
(Richmond) - Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Jim Webb submitted his petitions of qualified voters to the Commonwealth of Virginia's Board of Elections office in Richmond this afternoon.
Jim Webb collected a total of 14,231 signatures in all 11 of Virginia's congressional districts.
"We collected these signatures utilizing only the hard work of our 170 dedicated volunteers and supporters who are in every nook and cranny of this great state," said Campaign Manager Jessica Vanden Berg. "Our grassroots organization is second to none. The amount of support and enthusiasm of the volunteers is simply amazing. To gather this many signatures, especially after announcing his candidacy just over a month ago, may be unheard of in Virginia. These committed grassroots organizers and the people who drafted Jim into the race are truly the heart and soul of this campaign. And I commend their efforts."
Jim Webb is a decorated Vietnam veteran, a former Secretary of the Navy, an award winning journalist and a best selling author. Since beginning his campaign for Senate a month ago, he has already secured a number of high-profile endorsements, including Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, former Lt. Governor Candidate Leslie Byrne, former Democratic whip of the Virginia House of Delegates Chap Petersen, former Virginia Senator Emilie Miller, Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette, Arlington School Board Member Ed Fendley, Arlington County Treasurer Frank O’Leary and Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy.
Paid for by James Webb for U.S. Senate