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How To Win in Virginia in 2013

By: Ned Ryun (Diary)  |  February 18th, 2013 at 10:59 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

* Written with Brian Baker, President of Ending Spending

As the eyes of the nation turn to key state races in 2013 – New Jersey and Virginia – the issues of fiscal responsibility and economic growth will be a yardstick for how voters measure candidates. This year, Virginia will play a critical role in the ongoing national discussion of how we reverse the massive growth of the federal government and begin to solve the problem of out-of-control government spending.

One thing is certain: we need strong, principled, innovative new leaders not only in Washington, but also in our state capitals—leaders who will attack fiscal problems head-on by reforming faulty tax codes and broken spending mechanisms, not just nibble around the edges. We need leaders who will take the fight directly to the political establishment and disrupt the ruling class which has failed our country so badly.

In 2012, American Majority Action and Ending Spending – non-partisan advocacy groups dedicated to reducing excessive government spending and waste, and restoring responsible spending practices in government – went to great lengths to support Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in Wisconsin. As we said during the Wisconsin recall elections, “courage” was on the ballot.

For voters in 2013, the only real game in the country is in Virginia – and we’ve decided to team up again to help a brave and bold ticket win. Ending Spending and American Majority Action whole-heartedly endorsed Attorney General and GOP nominee Ken Cuccinelli for Governor. As regular Red Staters know, Cuccinelli is a champion for American families, small businesses and other liberty-minded people. Cuccinelli led the effort against Obamacare, and is one elected official who truly understands the importance of organizing and mobilizing the grassroots. But we’re not stopping there.

Given the tie in the Virginia State Senate – where current Lieutenant Governor Bolling at times votes with Democrats to stop practical reforms pushed by Governor McDonnell – future Governor Cuccinelli will need a courageous Lt. Governor. We think we’ve found what amounts to a great draft pick—in Virginia entrepreneur Pete Snyder, part of the important next generation of leaders who will get us back on the path of fiscal responsibility. A technology executive who pioneered the industry of social media marketing, Pete is making his first run for office, seeking the position of Lieutenant Governor in Virginia.

In a crowded field for the Republican nomination, Pete Snyder is the lone stand-out. Pete is a rare breed: he’s not another career politician—he’s an innovator and job creator, who has also supported smart policies and the right candidates for nearly twenty years, including as Governor McDonnell’s choice to run the Virginia grassroots effort in 2012. Pete’s experience growing jobs in the private sector makes him the best qualified candidate to be Virginia’s next Lieutenant Governor.

Pete is the real deal—and he’s proving it every day by running a campaign that is challenging the status quo. In the past few weeks, Snyder, a former college wrestler, showed that he’s unafraid to call the political class and career politicians out on the mat for their failures. Snyder took Virginia’s liberal Senate Democrat Leader to task for holding citizens hostage to insider political games. (Angered at being outmaneuvered by Senate Republicans, the top Senate Dem declared that he would retaliate by blocking critical work during the current legislative session). Snyder’s leadership earned him the ire of Richmond liberals, who angrily attacked him as “some nut job.”

The Virginian-Pilot correctly notes that Snyder’s show of leadership is “a score” for his campaign, demonstrating “to the Senate Republican Caucus he hopes to preside over next year that he’ll give them political cover when needed.” In other words, Snyder is going to stand strong on his common sense principles, and help others in Richmond do the same—and that is precisely what Virginia (not to mention every state in our country) needs right now. We agree with Erick and believe strongly that Pete is the best candidate to run alongside and complement Cuccinelli.

Ken and Pete’s demonstrated records as principled, effective leaders make them a great team to lead Virginia. We hope you will join us in supporting these candidates, and encourage you to join learn how to become delegates for both Ken and Pete at the Republican Party of Virginia’s nominating convention this May.

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COMMENTS

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  • gmat

    Virginia has a history of electing its governor (who can serve only one term) from the party that didn’t win the white house the previous year. This year there’s going to be a nominating convention instead of a primary, that’s a new thing, and I think Cuccinelli will be unopposed, since Bolling took himself out of it.

    So I’d say it is Cuccinelli’s to lose.

    • http://teapartisan.wordpress.com Loren Heal

      Cuccinelli also has a history of running grassroots, door-knocking campaigns. This year looks to be no exception. If so, he’ll win.

  • virginiahiker

    An honest assessment would have to recognize Cuccinelli is the underdog in this race but is also “the most viable conservative”. Bolling is not, never was and never will be a viable candidate at the top of any ticket. Regardless of ideology, he just does not have the fire in the belly for real competition.

    This will be a very difficult race. The Obama/Democrat machine in Va. is head and shoulders more organized, professional and competent than anything RNC, RGA or RPVA can put against them. Northern Virginia is divided between liberals and libertarians (traditional libertarians, not the Ron Paul faux libertarians). It will be difficult to court the libertarians since the SoCons in Va make such a point of viciously attacking any who do not kiss up to them on a regular basis. And of course, the media is solidly behind “anybody but Cuccinelli”.

    But it it the type of race he does best in. Cuccinelli is one of the few SoCon elected officials who has remained on good terms with most libertarians. He has forgotten more about grassroots organizing than most candidates will ever learn. He does not waste time fighting the media. He ignores them and finds other ways to get his message out.

    Also, Terry Mcauliffe is the Democrat version of Bill Bolling. He will likely depend heavily on the WaPo led media to savage Cuccinelli, the Obama machine to turn out the vote plus his own money for attack adds and name recognition but avoid the strenuous work of actually campaigning.

    At this point, I would project the likely outcome 52-48 Mcauliffe but recognize Cuccinelli could reverse those numbers.

    • celador2

      Bill Clinton will do another fundraiser for long time DC ally Terry, the Capitol Carpetbagger. He pushed him four years ago and failed to win primary. Maybe the D field has been cleard for McAuliffe the way Bill cleared the field for Hillary in 2000 NY? Hillary was a carpetbagger too.

      McAuliffe is perhaps at his best behind the scenes not door to door or public speaking. Basking in Bill’s glow again plus relying on a presidential turn out is what it will take to win on top of WaPo drumbeats and shills.

      But with Ken making a case for the state of the state and Terry not knowing much about the state Ken will outshine Terry.

      Ken wins on merit but still has to get out his voters.

  • Blue_State_Refugee

    I will respectfully have to disagree with your choice of Lt. Gov. if the speech given by Mr. Snyder at the Prince William County Republican Committee meeting in January is an indicator. I don’t doubt his credentials as an entrepreneur, almost eerily similar to Mitt Romney…..and therein lies the rub. I believe we need someone who can articulate conservatism and would appeal to grass roots (to include minorities). That’s why I’m casting my convention ballot for Bishop Jackson.

  • jackalope88

    I notice that you did not mention how Pete Snyder was the Victory Chairman in Virginia in 2012. He was responsible for carrying Virginia for Romney. Instead of focusing on winning Virginia he was running around preparing to run for Lieutenant Governor.

    I’m on the ground here in Virginia. I’ve talked with each of the candidates, most of them at length to include Pete Snyder. Pete Snyder has no understanding of the constitution. If I were casting an actor to play a plastic politician I would cast Pete Snyder. He is one of the two worst in a field of seven. And one of five straight establishment candidates in the race.

    This is not a grassroots candidate. If your organization is going to be a shill for establishment candidates like Pete Snyder then you can take your organization and stay the flock out of my state’s primary.

    We need Susan Stimpson or E.W. Jackson as our Lieutenant Governor candidate. either one of them would be a step forward for the grassroots.

    • Danielle Davis (ocleverone)

      They also didn’t mention that a large portion of Snyder’s campaign contributions are from out of state or that his wife is Deputy Chief of Staff for Roy Blount.

      Susan will make a great LG for Virginia. She has the conservative credentials and having known her for the better part of a decade, her conservative values are very real and run deep in her every day life – not just during a campaign.

  • northfloridawriter

    Cuccinnelli is one of the brightest constitutionalists in the country. He knows what the constitution means and how important it is to the future success of both Virginia and the nation. He is a tireless worker, a hard campaigner, and will not falter from taking his message throughout the Old Dominion, from coal country, to the Tidewater military region, to the Washington suburbs.
    Since he will likely be running against Terry McAuliffe, an unabashed liberal Kool-Aid drinker who never saw a government program he didn’t like, the contrast should be clear to all. McAuliffe is no Virginian at all, he merely resides in Northern Virginia for its proximity to DC and his political pals.
    Barring any stupid misteps by the Virginia GOP, I think Cuccinnelli will win and bring wth him a good, conservative Administration that will ake Thomas Jefferson proud. Go, Ken, whip em with the grace and honor you have shown as AG. Though living in Fl, I am a native Virginian who always follows my home state closely.

  • celador2

    Bob McDonnell did well by contrats when his weak D opponent would not take a clear stand on cap and trade 2009. Obama is tied to an EPA that terrorizes the coal industry with punishment not development for clean coal.
    Many voters in Virginia in suburban DC north do not care about the coal industry and its future but in midterms they may not vote.

    Where do Ken and Pete stand on coal as an industry and taking on the war on coal by Obama EPA?