Are Virginia Republicans seriously going to contest the (supposedly) safe Democratic 31st State Senate district (Arlington, McLean, Great Falls, a small part of eastern Loudoun County)? Based on the glossy, 8-page mailer for Caren Merrick I received in the mail today (see page 1 to the left, and click to “embiggen”), paid for by the Republican Party of Virginia, it would sure seem so. I mean, this thing must have cost a s***-ton!
Also, note that the word “Republican” is never seen in the entire 8 pages, except on the back page in small print, where it says “paid for and authorized by…” Other than that, it’s all “new solutions and new leadership,” “economic growth and jobs creation,” “humble roots,” “hard work” and “results.”
Finally, note that in all of this glossy goodness, there is ZERO word about the following topics: abortion, gay rights, immigration, guns, “Obamacare,” or just about any other divisive issue, social or otherwise, nowadays. Is this what Republicans like to refer to as “shock and awe?”
Again, the question is whether or not Republicans are serious about going all-out on this, are they just testing the waters, are they trying to spook Democrats, or what? Will we see mailers like this coming through November, or will this be a one-shot deal? I don’t know, but I do know that Democrats just finished a rough primary, and that the Democratic nominee came out of it pretty much broke. On the other hand, the 31st Senate district still – in spite of being made 9.7 points more Republican in redistricting – was one of Bob McDonnell’s worst in 2009 (he won 44.4% of the vote). So, bottom line, I’m not really sure what to conclude here. What do you think? Also, to see the rest of the glossy mailer, click here. Thanks.
P.S. I was also wondering, no matter how much deceptive mail Caren Merrick puts out, hiding the fact that she’s a Republican, how many people in the 31st Senate district won’t know that fact by the end of this campaign?
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