Local
Fimian gets more aggressive as Va. 11th District race comes to a close
By: William C. Flook
Examiner Staff Writer
November 2, 2008
Republican businessman Keith Fimian, in the last days of his campaign to win Virginia’s 11th District congressional seat, is walking down a path well worn by earlier challengers of his opponent, Gerry Connolly.
Fimian has started a salvo of ads and mailers framing the Democratic Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chairman as a political careerist who is plagued by questions of conflict of interest. Fimian’s slogan: “Gerry Connolly is too corrupt even for Congress.”
Last year, during Connolly’s re-election bid, Republican opponent Gary Baise employed that strategy, though not nearly as explicitly. So did Connolly’s congressional primary challenger, Leslie Byrne, who accused him of “pay to play politics” and said the Fairfax chairman’s anti-war stance conflicted with his job with defense contractor SAIC.
The accusations, which Connolly calls “over the top” and a sign of desperation, have never gained traction with voters. Connolly won both elections by a commanding margin. And with a strong anti-Republican tide, he is widely favored to score a Democratic pickup Tuesday.
The seat is left open by the retirement of Republican Rep. Tom Davis.
Nothing can realistically knock Connolly off the path to victory at this point, said University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato.
“And rarely do I say that, nothing,” he said. “This one is cooked, done and in the cooling pan.”
Fimian is banking on the Connolly charges sticking this time, pointing to voters’ anger with Fannie Mae’s campaign contributions to congressional banking committee members while the troubled D.C. mortgage giant was “run into the ground.”
“The same general sense exists here in Fairfax County,” he said. “People are unhappy when politicians have a vested interest in advancing the interest of those who give them political contributions.”
Fimian’s most recent mailer attacks Connolly’s contributions from companies that do business with the county. Fimian also has gone after Connolly for tax increases and a $500 million shortfall facing Fairfax in fiscal 2010.
“I don’t think it will stick. ... It’s a Democratic district and it’s going to vote Democratic,” Byrne said.
Fimian has started a salvo of ads and mailers framing the Democratic Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chairman as a political careerist who is plagued by questions of conflict of interest. Fimian’s slogan: “Gerry Connolly is too corrupt even for Congress.”
Last year, during Connolly’s re-election bid, Republican opponent Gary Baise employed that strategy, though not nearly as explicitly. So did Connolly’s congressional primary challenger, Leslie Byrne, who accused him of “pay to play politics” and said the Fairfax chairman’s anti-war stance conflicted with his job with defense contractor SAIC.
The accusations, which Connolly calls “over the top” and a sign of desperation, have never gained traction with voters. Connolly won both elections by a commanding margin. And with a strong anti-Republican tide, he is widely favored to score a Democratic pickup Tuesday.
The seat is left open by the retirement of Republican Rep. Tom Davis.
Nothing can realistically knock Connolly off the path to victory at this point, said University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato.
“And rarely do I say that, nothing,” he said. “This one is cooked, done and in the cooling pan.”
Fimian is banking on the Connolly charges sticking this time, pointing to voters’ anger with Fannie Mae’s campaign contributions to congressional banking committee members while the troubled D.C. mortgage giant was “run into the ground.”
“The same general sense exists here in Fairfax County,” he said. “People are unhappy when politicians have a vested interest in advancing the interest of those who give them political contributions.”
Fimian’s most recent mailer attacks Connolly’s contributions from companies that do business with the county. Fimian also has gone after Connolly for tax increases and a $500 million shortfall facing Fairfax in fiscal 2010.
“I don’t think it will stick. ... It’s a Democratic district and it’s going to vote Democratic,” Byrne said.
