Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has released his third ad in Virginia and other swing states, and it’s very much in keeping with the first two.
Echoing the two “Day One” ads released in recent weeks, “A Better Day” promises that starting on his first day in office, “President Romney focuses on the economy and the deficit, unleashes America’s energy resources, and stands up to China on trade. President Romney’s leadership puts jobs first.”
But the narrator adds that “there’s something more than legislation or new policy. It’s the feeling we’ll have that our country’s back, back on the right track. That’s what will be different about a Romney presidency.”
Romney’s campaign has reportedly reserved $2 million in ad time in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and Iowa for the week ahead.
Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed on to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference next week in Chicago.
McDonnell is scheduled to address attendees at the conservative gathering on June 8, after Herman Cain, former Republican presidential candidate.
McDonnell, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, joins scheduled speakers Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.
“We are proud to welcome Governor McDonnell to Chicago this summer as conservatives take the fight for the future of our country directly to President Barack Obama’s backyard,” said Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, in announcing McDonnell’s appearance.
Terry McAuliffe may not have officially announced his run for Virginia governor in 2013, but that doesn’t seem to faze his supporters — some 400 of whom affixed their names to a mass email announced their backing of his all-but-assured gubernatorial bid.
The demonstration of political muscle comes the day before McAuliffe and hundreds of other Democrats are scheduled to convene at George Mason University in Fairfax to select delegates to the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
The list marks a substantial swath of political territory across the commonwealth for the energetic Northern Virginian — a former Democratic National Committee chair and personal friend of Bill Clinton — who lost a three-way bid for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2009.
McAuliffe has spent the last three years laying the foundation for a run in 2013, reinventing himself as a green energy entrepreneur committed to growing the commonwealth’s economy. His money and cross-state networking appear to have scared off any other possible Democratic challengers for the party nomination, though McAuliffe said he would back down if popular former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a current U.S. Senator, decided to enter the race and run for a second term as governor.
The email announcing McAuliffe’s backers was sent out by Susan Swecker, a Democratic National Committeewoman and party activist.
“We believe Terry will be a strong nominee who will take back the Governor’s Mansion and help candidates up and down the ballot next year,” said Swecker.
“Over the last four years, Terry has traveled and participated in over 2,300 events across the Commonwealth. From Southwest Virginia to Northern Virginia he has listened and heard the concerns of everyday Virginians.”
The list compiled by McAuliffe backers reflects those travel, with current and former lawmakers and local party officials from across the commonwealth declaring their support. Among them:
· Hon. C. Richard Cranwell, Former Majority Leader, Virgina House of Delegates & Former Chair, Democratic Party of Virginia (Roanoke Co.)
· Hon. Michael Herring, Richmond Commonwealth Attorney (Richmond)
· Henry Howell, III, Former Chair, Virginia Beach Democratic Committee (Virginia Beach)
· Hon. Nancy Rodrigues, Former Secretary of Virginia State Board of Elections (Surry)
· Hon. Richard Saslaw, Democratic Leader, Virginia Senate (Fairfax Co.)
McAuliffe is scheduled to speak at this weekend’s gathering. While Democrats would appear to have few obstacles in deciding on a gubernatorial candidate, Republicans face a much more contentious environment when party faithful convene in Richmond in two weeks.
Both Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli have announced plans to run for the GOP nomination. State Central Committee members will decide on June 16 whether that selection process will change from an open primary to a party convention.
A convention is said to favor Cuccinelli, while Bolling is expected to fare better in a primary.
A Fredericksburg tea party activist and head of the American Patriots Committee claims to have uncovered an “earth shattering situation in Virginia’s legal system.”
Herb Lux, a one-time congressional hopeful who was denied a place on the ballot in the 2010 7th District race by the state Board of Elections, claims that hundreds of Virginia court cases presided over by “scores of judges” could soon be invalidated because the judges were not sworn in.
By law, every judge must be sworn in by taking an oath of office. In a press release, Lux suggests that he has discovered that many judges were not sworn in, which would render their rulings null and void.
“The invalidation of these cases will send shock waves through the Virginia court system,” the release says.
Lux will present his findings for discussion on The Schilling Show on WINA 1070AM in Charlottesville at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow.
President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is up with another TV ad in Virginia, this one focused on higher education.
It opens with a picture of a young Obama with his mother, and then shows him during his college years.
“With hard work and student aid, his life was transformed,” the narrator says. “Today, higher education means even more for the middle class. Giving young people the chance to compete—like he did.”
The 30-second spot goes on to tout the president’s efforts regarding college tax credits and capping federal student loan payments.
The Virginia Politics Blog from the Richmond Times-Dispatch covers the General Assembly, issues and politics throughout the Commonwealth. Follow reporters Olympia Meola, Wes Hester and Jim Nolan for a behind the scenes look at Virginia politics. Commentary from Jeff Schapiro adds another point of view, and photographs from Bob Brown offer a look at the people involved in politics across the state.
