Decision Virginia

We just talked to Rep. Eric Cantor at an event he was holding at the Massey Cancer Center in Richmond. The House Minority Whip is one the most visible Republicans in the state. Today he joined the party’s nominee for Governor Bob McDonnell by calling for RPV chairman Jeff Frederick to step down.

Here is Mr. Cantor’s quote:

“I don’t think there is any question that current chairman has lost the support of the grass roots, has lost the support of the business community in the state and probably best that he move on and that we focus very much on the future of Virginia and this year obviously being an election year that is very important.”

Cantor went on to leave no doubt as to where he stood on the controversy.

“I think that the controversy surrounding chairman Frederick indicates that he has lost the support of so much of the grass roots of our party , the business community and others that is why I think it is time for us to move on.”

And on how it could impact the race for Governor:

“Listen, I think that Bob McDonnell has the grass roots behind him, he has a big advantage in that our party is united behind his effort.”

Finally.. what’s next?

“I think it is all about how we go forward and given the state of the economy here in Virginia and the real need for leadership and  vision it is an opportunity for our party to reunite and to get about communicating with the people of this state of our vision for Virginia.”

SEE THE VIDEO FROM CANTOR’S COMMENTS AFTER THE JUMP:

Read the rest of this entry »

Veteran Capitol reporter Bob Lewis gets the media’s first copy of a letter sent by members of the Republican Party of Virginia’s executive committee formally notifying chairman Jeff Frederick of their intent to remove him from office. The letter is a pretty damning account of Frederick’s tenure at the helm of the RPV. It accuses him of at best, failing to abide by party guidelines and at worst, using party funds to steer money to a private company that he runs.

For his part, Frederick remains defiant telling the AP that he will respond in writing to each of the charges. He claims that they are “false and without merit”

You can read Lewis’ story on the letter on the Times-Dispatch’s web site.

Bearing Drift has the entire letter and a they do a little digging of their own, countering Frederick’s claim that he did nothing wrong with party funds. 

While this drama matters little to everyday voters, it must driving everyone at Bob McDonnell headquarters nuts. The former Attorney General was in store for an unimpeded march to the general election. He was expected to bask in the glow of no primary opposition while his democratic counterparts spent their money and time beating up each other. Instead he is dealing with a inter-party squabble that will cast a shadow of his upcoming “official campaign launch” and its a problem that has the potential to linger far beyond. 

These problems are even worse when you consider that McDonnell made an effort to get Frederick to bow out gracefully before the dirt in these claims saw the light of day. Instead he is left to pick up of the pieces of an ugly mess that could leave the party badly damaged with little time to repair itself before November. How the candidate reacts could play an important role in how voters respond to him in November.