Ball Shuts Out Robinson Again, Democratic Nomination Now Within Grasp
With the way Krystal Ball has thoroughly dominated caucuses around Virginia’s First Congressional District, you would be surprised to learn that she actually has an opponent. She has swept one contest after another and the results should speak for themselves. So it should come as not surprise that Krystal dominated today at the York Poquoson Caucus, completely shutting out Scott Robinson (yet again!).
With today’s result, Krystal is now poised to secure the nomination in little more then a week. The only question that remains is how Scott plans on losing: with dignity and class or as a sore-loser. I hoping for the former, but I’m expecting the latter. I’d really like to be proven wrong on this one.
As has been the case with just about every caucus that has happened to date, the Robinson campaign resorted to their usual shenanigans. I’ve learned that Scott was actually inside the polling place harassing folks who were in line to vote. It got so bad that the chair of the committee had to ask Scott to stay 20 feet back. All of this could have something to do with why he lost by a 2 to 1 margin. I expect that Scott will throw out some wild claims that the vote was rigged and that the committee failed to do x, y and z. He may even threaten to sue, if his campaign money hasn’t already dried up. You see any other candidate would be gracious and would have exited the race when the results became clear a week ago, but not Scott.
At this point you have to also start questioning the advice Scott is getting from his staff, especially from his Campaign Manager Gregory Richardson. I’m thinking that this gig isn’t going to get him any gold stars on his resume. The field operation for this campaign has been atrocious. And in the perhaps the strangest allocation of resources I’ve ever seen, the Robinson campaign had folks canvassing Stafford and Fredericksburg on Thursday. So instead of focusing resources on York Poquoson, they chose to canvass an area that already conducted a caucus. Huh?! If that doesn’t boggle your mind, this will. These same canvassers, in making a case for Scott to a friend of mine, had the following to say (and I’m quoting):
I need to give you a little briefing of why Scott Robinson is running. Krystal Ball is not an adequate candidate for Virginia. For one thing, she’s not old enough to lead yet. She doesn’t know the true values of Virginians like yourself. Scott Robinson was born and raised in Virginia and he knows what Virginians need. They need health care, to reform our schools, and fix our traffic problem. Scott Robinson was a crab farmer on the Chesapeake on a boat called the ‘Betty May.’
Scott and his folks are shameless. I’ve spoken to several folks within the district and have heard much worse things that Scott and his people have said about Krystal. Some of it being so bad that I wouldn’t even dignify it with a post. Just as an FYI, Krystal was born in King George, VA and now lives in Fredericksburg; Scott has NO plan for health care, our schools or relieving our traffic problem. His whole platform has been one of avoidance on virtually all of the major issues (see my original analysis of this race).
If that wasn’t bad enough, they sent an expensive, poorly written mailer to folks within Stafford and Fredericksburg. Do they not understand how caucuses work? They essentially flush money down the toilet on a mailer that was just awful, when they should instead be focusing on committing resources to the various caucuses that have yet to be conducted. Scott should fire his entire staff and then himself!
The math for Scott at this point is simply insurmountable. He has only managed to secure 13 percent of the 123 delegates so far. Only 78 remain up for grabs. Even if he were able to win every single remaining delegate, he could not clinch the nomination. Heck, uncommitted has captured more delegates than Scott – 29 to be exact. The reality is that all Krystal needs to do is capture 30 percent of the remaining delegates and she is the nominee. She is 24 delegates away. Anybody with a basic understating of math realizes that this race is over. Scott is not going to win.
Regardless of whether Scott stubbornly decides to push forward, this will be over in the next week or so. Scott needs to really think about how he wants to be remembered? With honor and class or does he want to continue the deplorable behavior we’ve all witnessed first hand. I’m rooting for Scott to choose the former.
Exactly how does Krystal Ball plan to defeat Rob Wittman? After all, that’s the goal — right?
I am a Northumberland County Democrat. I have never seen her, never talked with her, never received a phone call or mailer from her or her campaign.
Scott has been to Northumberland County several times, meeting with Democrats and Independents alike.
I guess she’ll focus on Fredericksburg, win the nomination, and hand the general election to Wittman.
I’ve laid out the case time and time again for Krystal being the most electable. You can read my analysis here.
I sure hope that Scott has been to Northumberland County, since he is from there! Krystal has traveled throughout the district and has completely dominated the caucus process. You would think that based on your premise that Scott would have swept his home caucus in Northumberland, but he wasn’t event able to do that! This thing is over and it’s time to get behind our nominee Krystal Ball.
You can read more of why Krystal is best positioned to win on Blue Virginia. Just scroll down to the bottom and read my comment.
And you were at the Northumberland caucus when?
Didn’t see you there among the 15 of us who were.
Nominate Krystal Ball and two of us will stay home. She’ll be trounced in the military vote that Scott could carry.
But, go ahead — after all, you’re the people who nominated Creigh Deeds.
Oh, and by the way — we didn’t even vote at the Northumberland caucus.
So are you saying that all delegates elected were committed to Scott Robinson. Krystal didn’t even actively compete in Northumberland and Scott couldn’t even secure every single delegate. That should speak volumes of the type of field operation he has run.
I love how you make these wild claims about the military vote without anything to back up these statements. You point to the military vote as being a major factor in this district. If that is the case, why the heck can’t he turn them out at any of the caucuses? Scott’s field operation is a disaster and will probably lead us to a worse defeat than we were dealt in 2009. Across the district I can’t tell you how many retired military folks that I’ve run into that are completely behind Krystal’s candidacy. Heck, even the House Chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), is behind Krystal. Here’s his endorsement:
If all it took was a Veteran to win then why didn’t our 2007 democratic nominee, Phil Forgit, beat Wittman? Phil was a recipient of the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. He was an all around great guy with an impeccable resume. Wittman beat Forgit 60.77 percent to 37.34 percent. Eerily similar to the same results that we experienced in 2009, with Creigh Deeds losing the First CD 64.74 percent to 35.12 percent.
I’ve seen the story you’re trying to tell and I’m not a big fan of the ending. The reality is just because you are a veteran it does not mean that other veterans will just blindly follow you. Veterans, like other voters, will support the candidate with the best ideas. The results so far say that candidate is Krystal Ball! You also rail against Creigh and you want us to nominate him all over again (see Scott Robinson). Creigh is a great guy, but made for a poor candidate.
You can stay home, but I’m going to support our democratic nominee. I strongly supported Brian Moran in 2009 and he lost to Creigh in the primary. I didn’t just pack it in and go home after he lost. I worked my butt off for Creigh. I would expect the same from everyone who supported Scott – to work their butts off for Krystal.
All I’m saying is that we Northumberland County Democrats held a caucus last week. We had a pot-luck supper and discussed the coutny school funding situation. We selected four delegates to the District Caucus in Fredericksburg in May. We did not vote on a candidate and no one knows to whom our four delegates are committed — if committed at all.
You wrote: “You would think that based on your premise that Scott would have swept his home caucus in Northumberland, but he wasn’t event able to do that!” So — you’re telling us that Scott did not sweep Northumberland County’s caucus. Wrong.
The facts are:
1. We did not hold a vote at the Northumberland Clounty Caucus.
2. Because we did not hold a vote, no one swept the caucus.
3. You write about matters without knowing of what you speak.
4. So — why should we believe you?
You forgot to mention what you ate at the pot-luck supper? The Northumberland committee reported out that 3 people were committed for Robinson and 1 person went uncommitted. This isn’t some secret information. The committee had to certify the results and anyone can request them. I’d say that most folks would say that not winning every single delegate amounts to not sweeping. So what was your point again?
OR,
It is a primary that is based on a caucus nomination, not even a primary general vote, which is why you shouldn’t get your hopes up in seeing or hearing from the candidate herself. Usually, if you want to be able to garner some kind of literature or face time with a primary candidate you have to actively seek her/him out, attend a local event or simply go to their office. I doubt she’d be canvassing Northumberland County in March, or sending out a mail piece this far out.
Well, it’s all moot now. Scott Robinson has withdrawn.
Still, the Old Redneck will make one final observation. I am supposed to be impressed by this:
— quote
Krystal will be a strong champion of our armed service members and a fierce advocate for our veterans and their families, both inside and out of the district. I am impressed by her call to service and with her background as a CPA and small business owner. I believe she has a valuable perspective from which to legislate on economic issues, and will be the best voice for Virginia’s first district.
— end quote
And how is this different from what EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE IN EVERY OTHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE NATION SAYS?
VA-01 has a heavy military presence, including the Old Redneck who retired after 30 years in the Army. Simply telling us that you will be a “fierce advocate for our veterans and their families” is not impressive. What’s impressive is an individual who has done it, not just talked about it.
But, it’s over now. Wittman is guaranteed two more years. I’m betting on Wittman, 65-35.
And as for not sending out a mailing this far in advance: I guess Krystal Ball is a strong closer. Like Creigh Deeds.
I think that the fact that the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs was the one saying that about Krystal, most folks would be pretty impressed. Listen, I applaud Scott for his sacrifice and the 3+ years he’s spent running for this seat. His desire to make a difference is quite admirable, but he never was really able to connect to voters and build a formidable field operation.
You can choose to pack it in and take your toys home, since that is clearly a better option then unseating Rob Wittman or beating Catherine Crabill. You sound like John McCain when he didn’t get his way on health care reform. This race was going to be difficult no matter who the nominee; however, Krystal provides us the greatest opportunity to score a major upset. That isn’t just my opinion, but that of the entire district as a whole. That is why they overwhelmingly supported Krystal.
So — what was my point again?
My point is simple:, your attitude is the reason I’ll stay home. You go celebrate with Krystal. But don’t go ordering any Congressional letterhead.