RPV presidential petition process marred by controversy, tragedy

By: Ryan Nobles – bio | email

At a time when Virginia is expected to be considered one of the most important states in the 2012 presidential election, its first moment in the national spotlight was overshadowed by only two of the potential seven candidates gaining access to the ballot and a party volunteer losing her life in a car accident.

Two different GOP officials confirm that a woman, that was helping count and verify signatures submitted by presidential candidates, was involved in a serious car crash after leaving the signature canvassing session. She was killed in the accident.

Her identity was not immediatley available.

The fatal accident was the capper of a difficult and somewhat embarrassing night for the state republican party. Of the seven potential candidates for president, only four attempted to submit the necessary 10,000 signatures to get on the March 6th ballot. Of the four that decided to participate only two, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, were certified as official candidates.

Texas Governor Rick Perry fell far short of being certified. A GOP activist said that despite telling the state Board of Elections that he submitted more than 11 thousand signatures, the Perry campaign handed in somewhere between 4-6 thousands qualified signatures.

Then early Saturday morning, The RPV determined that House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who had just spent two days drumming up support and cash for the state party, also did not qualify for the ballot. Gingrich was disqualified at 2:50am.

The credible conservative blog, Bearing Drift is reporting that one of the Gingrich’s petition gatherers was not qualified. According to BD, that accounted for as many as 2 thousand of the speaker’s signatures being tossed, but could open the door to a legal challenge.

Losing both Gingrich and Perry from the Virginia primary ballot is shocking, given that both have worked to develop strong ties to the Commonwealth. Gingrich is a Virginia resident and has spent quite a bit of time traveling the state over the past several years. Perry is close with Governor Bob McDonnell and headlined a very successful fundraiser for the party in September.

In the wake of this petition drama, pundits from both sides of the aisle are saying that this process has separated the true contenders from those just going through the motions.

Norm Leahy wrote this morning that the Virginia Republican petition process actually became the first actual presidential primary. “A hardened cynic might say this result exposes those campaigns for what they are: glorified book tours,” Wrote Leahy. He went on to say, “Getting on Virginia’s ballot was a test of organizational skill and grassroots strength. It was also something much more mundane: it tested whether campaigns could pay attention to a calendar and read instructions.”

Former Democratic Party of Virginia chairman Paul Goldman, who predicted Perry and Gingrich wouldn’t make it, said the failure of the major candidates indicates problems with their campaign infrastructure. “This is a failing of the national Perry and Gingrich campaigns who are supposed to helping locals get it done,” he said. However, Goldman believes the people are the ones who suffer. He believes the General Assembly should entertain the idea of changing the law to give these candidates a reprieve in time for the March primary.

Meanwhile Virginia Democrats certified President Barack Obama as their only candidate for the March primary.

Thursday on NBC12 First at 4: ABC privitization discussion

Governor Bob McDonnell is set to make his pitch to Central Virginians that privatizing the state’s liquor stores is the way to go.  The Governor will hold his  “Virginia Speaks” Town Hall at the Cultural Center of India in Chester Thursday night.  It will be the third such meeting he has held across the state.

Earlier that day, we will welcome two experts with strong opinions on the ABC privatization plan to NBC12 First at 4.

Paul Goldman is a former aide to Virginia Governor Doug Wilder.  Goldman extensively studied the issue while working for Wilder during his time as Governor.  At one point Wilder opposed the idea, but has now come out in support of the plan. Goldman remains in the negative camp and will argue that point Thursday on First at 4.

Norman Leahy is a free market lobbyist, blogger and radio talk show host. Leahy often argues against government intervention in private business practices.  He has written a great deal about the ABC privatization issue on his blog Tertium Quids.  Leahy also served as analyst for NBC12 on election night 2009.

Leahy and Goldman will offer a plain-spoken, common sense arguments “for” and “against” the ABC plan. If you don’t understand the issue, are looking for more insight or would like some background before you head to the town hall meeting, you don’t want to miss this discussion.

NBC12 First at 4 airs live on NBC12-TV and 4pm. It is also streamed live on NBC12.com.

Leahy and Tribbett to offer anaylsis on NBC12 Election night

Ryan Nobles – bio | email

I am pleased to announce that two of Virginia’s most prolific partisan bloggers will join NBC12 for our extensive election coverage this coming Tuesday night.  Ben Tribbett, author of the popular left leaning blog “NotLarrySabato” and Norm Leahy of the right leaning “Tertium Quids” will offer their unvarnished analysis live on NBC12-TV and   NBC12.com.

While Tribbett and Leahy both blog from a partisan perspective, both are not afraid to give an honest and sometimes harsh perspective of politicians and parties from both sides.

Ben Tribbett currently serves as the Executive Director of Accountability Now and Political Director of Firedoglake. His blog “NotLarrySabato” has earned the reputation as “America’s Most Popular State-Level Blogger”. Many Democratic candidates and campaigns have turned to his popular blog as a vehicle to get out their message out through the use of viral video or information.

Tribbett’s work has been featured on such national blogs as the Huffington Post and he recently made news during the Democratic primary when Terry McAuliffe accepted his endorsement via YouTube video.  You can follow Ben on Twitter at @NotLarrySabato

Norman Leahy serves as the vice president for public affairs at Tertium Quids. In this role, he develops public outreach and messaging strategies to help advance conservative and free market principles in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

He is one of Virginia’s most seasoned and respected political bloggers. From 2002-07, Norman published “One Man’s Trash,” a blog devoted to Virginia politics and media criticism. Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist Jeff Schapiro called the blog “a hoot,” while Daily Progress reporter Bob Gibson dubbed it “feisty.” Today, he is a regular contributor to Freedom & Prosperity Radio, which is
heard in Charlottesville, Roanoke, Blacksburg and Martinsville in the very near future.

A graduate of the Johns Hopkins University and the Colorado College, he was a 2006 fellow at the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. Norman and his family live in Henrico County. You can follow Norm on twitter at @Tertiumquids

I will have a full preview of what to expect on Election night on NBC12-TV and NBC12.com coming up tomorrow on Decision Virginia.