Thank You Bill Fleming
As J. Tyler Ballance points out in post comments, “[i]n just two weeks, Dr. Fleming was able to mobilize over two thousand voters to vote for him. His Republican opponent, Mr. McWaters, who is a retired health insurance gatekeeper, had to spend nearly a million dollars to muster 8,051 votes, the LOWEST turn-out for a Republican in the Eighth District in over thirty years!” Worth mentioning is how over $450,000 of that near $ million was personal loans McMoneybags made to his own campaign.
Less than 9% of district voters turned out at the polls yesterday. McWaters can talk “landslide” all he wants but he’s an idiot if he thinks he was sent a mandate. The fact that he had an opponent there to ruin Christmas for him is evidence alone that McWaters owes his election to a very tiny set of supporters, which in no way represents the larger interests and diversity of the 8th district. “Make no mistake, I am a conservative republican but my door will be open to all, republican, democrat or independent,” he writes. Considering the disgracefully insulting way he slammed on liberals during the campaign, that door may be open but the office empty for us.
“All Virginians should thank Dr. Bill Fleming for carrying the Democratic banner in this special election and for him providing the citizens of Virginia Beach a choice; a choice of continued hope and change for moving Virginia back onto the road to prosperity”, writes Ballance. Fine words, indeed.
Thank you, Bill, for stepping up and carrying the progressive Democratic mantle in Virginia Beach. It is such a thrill to know that we can instantly invigorate over 2,000 folks to the polls on a cold January day. With new leadership at the helm of the VBDC, let’s quickly make that 4,000 folks. Let’s do the outreach to the other half of Virginia Beach (the 7th Senate district) and have 8,000 folks supporting our new progressive wave here in Virginia Beach. See what you started, Bill?! I’m so proud of you and so proud to be a Virginia Beach Democrat! Our time will come thanks to brilliant leaders such as yourself!
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January 13th, 2010 at 7:20 am
Well I am not sure that trying to spark a progressive tsunami is the way to run Wagner out of office. Hopefully the VBDC will be successful in finding a more centrist candidate. One acceptable to the left wing but who can appeal to moderates at the same time. While I consider myself center-left I think our best chances for success might be center-right.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Your man lost by a 4 to 1 margin. Stop being so bitter and stupid. Accept the loss, he got his ass kicked and so will the Massacheusetts Murderer’s heir appearent.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:38 am
THANK YOU FOR A BIG LOSS BILL FLEMING!!!!!!!!
January 13th, 2010 at 9:10 am
Only idiots fail to see the very positive implications of the Bill Fleming campaign for the Democrats in Virginia Beach.
Dr. Fleming proved that by running a campaign where he offered voters tangible, workable solutions, that voters would respond; and respond they did! Given a little more time to get his message out and mobilize his base, even Republican insiders concede that Bill Fleming would have closed the gap and quite probably surpassed “health insurance gatekeeper” McWaters.
There is usually not much joy in a loss, but Bill Fleming and his pragmatic, solutions-based campaign, has awakened a sleeping giant among the vital crossover voters and the Democratic base in Virginia Beach.
January 13th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Meanwhile, Democrat David Marsden won the state senate seat vacated by Ken Cuccinelli, giving Democrats a net gain of 1 for a 22-18 majority in the State Senate.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Grover,
I fail to see the conclusions you point to after examining the election totals.