Dave Poisson, running against Dick Black the 32nd district, had an extraordinary announcement today: Some of the leading associations in the country -- including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- will host a fund raising reception for Dave. The release is here.
It’s part of a broader picture. It may well be that national business groups, concerned about the lack of investment in basic infrastructure and the deficit spending of the Bush administration, are looking down the ballot to where the fight for basic services has been driven -- the states. No doubt that states are picking up costs that the feds no longer can handle. In Virginia as elsewhere, the battle then is to prevent the state from pushing the costs on to localities.
It may well be, too, given Black’s extreme social agenda [Disclosure], that moderate Republicans, of which I’m sure there is at least a few in the U.S. Chamber, think things are going too far.
Poisson is a businessman and a moderate Democrat. It seems unusual for several national associations to get involved in a state race like this. But maybe there are more Republicans than we can imagine who say enough is enough.
Try Googling some of the names on the host committee.
Nice way to spin it, but Black rec'd only 51+% of the vote last time, and there are ,000s of new voters.
Posted by: Bob | June 03, 2005 at 12:15 AM
I think you get a bit too excited, and too complacent. Dick Black won the last two elections by 15% over each opponent. If Poisson wants to win, he is going to need to energize the voters in the 32nd (particularly with such a large drop in voters in the 32nd over the 2001-2003 period). Otherwise, he will drop just like Morrissey in the prior two elections.
Posted by: CR UVa | June 02, 2005 at 05:54 PM
That's good to hear.
Posted by: Paul | June 02, 2005 at 03:30 PM