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Annotations & Elucidations 

Military Shafted Again By Virginia Registrars

We lead off with another mention of The Family Foundation by a national organization (American Family Association). State and national media have paid a lot of attention to us recently for a variety of good reasons. This time, about our voter guides for the November 3 election. Additionally, our very own Victoria Cobb was interviewed by Richmond’s NBC12 yesterday in response to the “Hate Crimes Bill” President Obama signed into law, but unfortunately, it has yet to post it on its Web page. (If this bill was so important, why did it have to be attached to the Defence Appropriations Bill?)

Speaking of the military, NBC12 does an excellent job reporting on 16 Virginia localities which again failed to mail on time (in violation of state law) military personnel their absentee ballots. In a sign that it’s just as well it didn’t post Victoria’s video, the video of the absentee ballot report won’t post here, but we have the link to it. This incompetence has not gone unnoticed as concerned citizens and military families rallied outside the State Board of Elections. 

Meanwhile, back on the campaign trail, it was desperate enough of Democrat attorney general candidate, Delegate Steve Shannon to call his Republican opponent, Senator Ken Cuccinelli, a racist last week because of his 10th Amendment support, but now he’s a gay basher of sorts. Really, Delegate Shannon. Show some grace. If Senator Cuccinelli was all those things, why have you accepted dinner invitations at his home? 

News:

*Virginia residents to vote on Election Day — Tuesday, November 3, 2009 (AFAAction.net)

Military absentee ballots mailed late (transcript and video) (WWBT-TV/NBC12.com)

GOP headliners hopscotch Virginia for McDonnell (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Romney makes pitch for McDonnell at Virginia Beach lunch (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Giuliani stumps for McDonnell (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

McDonnell critics question ideology (Washington Post)

Deeds, McDonnell have similar blueprints for state’s economy (The Daily Press)

Shannon criticizes Cuccinelli remarks on policies toward gays (Washington Post)

Cuccinelli is no libertarian (Augusta Free Press)

Democrats pour money into 6th race (Roanoke Times)  

Trible uses CNU letterhead to raise money for Hamilton (The Daily Press)

Nonprofit halts planned mailing of voting history (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Can you shame people into voting? (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

National News:

After 10-year dispute, expansion of hate crimes law to gays signed (Washington Post)

Annotations & Elucidations 

No Obama Affect

Looks like there won’t be much of an Obama affect in Virginia. Despite at least a month of radio ads, two weeks of television ads, two appearances by Veep Joe Biden, and now a second campaign stop (not to mention all that DNC cash) for Creigh Deeds, four more polls (Rasmussen, SurveyUSA, Public Policy Polling and VCU’s Commonwealth Poll) show not just a McDonnell landslide, but an unprecedented GOP landslide sweep. (The only other GOP sweep in Virginia history, in 1997, featured a close lieutenant governor’s race won by John Hager over L.F. Payne.) Not that Obama seems to care. His speech in Norfolk was less than Obamaesque and not particularly rousing on the senator’s behalf, with deprecating humor about not wearing his tie straight and something about his hair. It seems the best the POTUS could do was call him “not slick.” About the last question that remains is whether the pending landslide will result in appreciable Republican gains in the House of Delegates. 

Meanwhile, the media hits keep coming from our Annual Gala Monday night. See the national attention we received from CitizenLink.org in our top story below.

News:

*Gov. Mike Huckabee Speaks at Virginia Gala (CitizenLink.org)

McDonnell’s lead grows (Public Policy Polling Blog)

VCU poll gives Bob McDonnell healthy lead (Decision Virginia Blog/NBC12.com)

Polls: Big GOP lead in Va., N.J. tight (Politico.com)

News7 Poll: Republicans hold double digit leads in statewide contests (WDBJ-TV/WDBJ7.com)

Virginia Governor: McDonnell Stretches Lead To 13 (RasmussenReports.com)

Polls: Big GOP lead in Va.; N.J. race tight (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Deeds reaches for ‘Obama energy’ (Washington Post)

Obama rallies for Deeds in Va. (Washington Times)

At Norfolk rally, Obama urges backers to boost Deeds (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Obama makes pitch for Deeds at Norfolk rally (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot) 

Attorney general rivals are worlds apart despite geographic ties (The Daily Press)

GOP adds $40,000 to Gear’s re-election effort (The Daily Press)

Valentine, Garrett rack up campaign donations (Lynchburg News & Advance)

Your voting history could end up in the neighbor’s mailbox (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Diradour drops bid to challenge Cantor (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Hate-crimes bill spurs some worry from religious groups (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

National News:

Debating gay marriage (Washington Times)