Tag: Bobby Scott

This is interesting but not surprising; I've been hearing for months that Bobby Scott would not run against Tim Kaine. Anyway, we now know the Democratic and Republican candidates for U.S. Senate next year -- Tim Kaine and Felix Macacawitz (barring a miracle by Jamie Radtke, she's toast). Game on!

UPDATE: Decision Virginia has more, including Bobby Scott's statement.

In recent weeks, we've heard talk by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-3rd) - and also by his ally (?) Doug Wilder - that Scott is seriously thinking about running for the U.S. Senate in 2012. That leaves Scott as the only Democrat even suggesting that he might challenge Tim Kaine for the nomination. Note that Tom Perriello - and everyone else, basically - has indicated strongly that he would defer to Tim Kaine. But not Bobby Scott. In addition, Scott has said that he's going to take his sweet time making up his mind - he says he'll decide by July - knowing full well that Tim Kaine probably can't wait that long. What's Bobby Scott's game here? I've been thinking about it and talking to some astute Virginia Democrats. This is what I've concluded.

First, from Bobby Scott's perspective, running for U.S. Senate - or at least floating his name to run for U.S. Senate - makes perfect sense. Here he is, a senior Congressman in the Virginia delegation, having been first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993. Yet, following Jim Webb's announcement that he'd be retiring after a single term, nobody was talking about Scott as a potential U.S. Senate candidate. That's got to rankle. At the minimum, he doesn't want to be Rodney Dangerfield - he wants to be shown some respect!

Then there's the issue that, following the Democrats' "shellacking" in 2010, Bobby Scott is now in the minority in the House of Representatives, with no certainty that he'll return to the majority in 2012 or beyond. At this point, about to turn 64 years old, perhaps Rep. Scott is interested in doing something else prior to his well-earned retirement? It would certainly be understandable!

But hold on, you say, could Bobby Scott really defeat Tim Kaine in a Democratic primary? The answer to that question is almost certainly "yes." A few points to consider:

By Paul Goldman

Former Governor Kaine may not be aware of a little known provision in the Virginia state law, one that I discussed with the Obama for President campaign on a very confidential basis, legal capacity kind of thing.

It's my reflection of having written about it before, but perhaps not. When you ask people in politics in Virginia, they immediately say state law prohibits anyone from running for two offices at the same time.

That isn't true. Here is one narrow exception hidden away in a little known provision of the Code of Virginia. Here is what the law says:

"...a  candidate for federal or statewide office... may have his name printed on the ballot for two offices at a primary election."

Congressman Scott could therefore run in both the 3rd district Democratic congressional primary and the statewide Democratic Senate primary assuming both were held.

Bottom line: As they in politics, Bobby Scott has a Get Out Of Jail free card to play next year if he so chooses.

What if he wins both nominations?

That's for another post.

I just have one thing to say to this.

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Now, back to your regularly scheduled blogging. :)

It's not often that I feel a need to thank the Richmond Times-Dispatch for providing information helpful to progressive politics, but here goes: Thanks, Times-Dispatch, for sending Virginia's members of Congress a questionnaire about their views on global climate change. The answers the newspaper got and published allow me (Hey, I am a retired teacher!) to grade our state's congressional delegation's views on global warming and how to mitigate it.

Let's get the F's out of the way first.

D-/F: The entire Republican delegation. At least you can say this about Virginia Republicans: they don't appear to be outright climate change deniers. Other than that, though, they have basically nothing to offer on this issue, voting against the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) and everything else that might actually allow the United States to address the problem. They also have no credible program themselves.

The only Democrat who merits a D, albeit a D+, is Glenn Nye (D-2nd). Nye does acknowledge that global warming "is a real and serious problem, and we must work to correct our current energy practice." Then, Nye turns around and opposes any serious measures to solve the problem, first and foremost setting some sort of price on carbon. Nye voted against ACES, which really is inexcusable, given that his coastal district is so vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

There were four congressional members who merit an A+: Bobby Scott (D-3rd), Tom Perriello (D-5th), Jim Moran (D-8th) and Gerry Connolly (D-11th).  

The following is a statement just issued by the Republican Third Congressional District Committee. it will be fun watching Rep. Bobby Scott (D) defeat Chuck Smith by 70,000 votes or so this November. Actually, if this is any indication, it could be even a worse drubbing than that. Given that Rep. Bobby Scott is one of the best people in Congress, that's something to look forward to!

Sean Devlin, Chair of the Third District GOP Candidate Committee, today announced that Chuck Smith has accepted a call to run as the Republican candidate for the House of Representatives. This announcement concludes a lengthy effort by grassroots Republican leaders from throughout the Third District to draft Smith and persuade him to take on this important challenge.

"The incumbent may call the Third District home, but he represents only Washington special interests," said Mike Wade, Chairman of the Third District Republican Committee. "There were many fine individuals who considered running this year. I want to thank them for their decision to help draft Chuck Smith. Their decision to bring a united front to our effort means we have a chance to elect a Congressman who will actually represent us, the people of the Third District

Yesterday, Democrats took a historic vote that was  certainly the right thing to do, but which was difficult politically for many of them.  Now, it's time for us to tell them - as Adam B writes on Daily Kos - that "when Democrats act courageously in the interests of our country, progressives will have their backs and support them."  So, please give generously to the members on this list, particularly to Virginia's own Tom Perriello. In addition, please call Tom and say "thank you!" at (202) 225-4711. To thank Gerry Connolly, call (202) 225-1492; to thank Bobby Scott, call (202) 225-8351, and to thank Jim Moran, call (202) 225-4376.