Republican candidate and businessman Keith Fimian has been trying for weeks to steer the race for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District back to energy and the economy, after his conservative Christian ties and hazy stance on social issues took his campaign on an unwelcome detour this summer.
Fimian, running to replace retiring Rep. Tom Davis, has struggled to pull the focus of the race away from his views on issues such as contraception and stem cell research, areas where his opponents hope to show a disconnect between him and the district’s moderate voter base.
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Democrats have hammered at Fimian’s social stances since a July Examiner article detailed his more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from members of Legatus, a group of Catholic business executives founded by anti-abortion activist Tom Monaghan.
Fimian also sits on the board of Legatus, which is headquartered in Ave Maria, Fla., a planned religious community Monaghan founded.
Fimian, who opposes both abortion and the death penalty, called other social issues “irrelevant” to voters of the 11th District and refused to state his positions on them in the article.
Both Fimian and his opponent, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly, are Catholic. But the Democrats’ focus on Fimian’s association with Monaghan and Legatus has spurred accusations of “Catholic baiting” against Connolly and his allies.
“Keith is getting beaten up for being part of an organization that simply acts consistently with his faith,” said state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax. “They’re trying to paint a picture of some guy who is more religious than they’re comfortable with, and they’re doing it through a third-party attack of an organization he belongs to.”
Connolly argued he isn’t chastising Fimian for his religion.
“He’s trying to pretend he’s something he’s not, which is a moderate,” Connolly said.
At the outset of his campaign, Fimian touted his business acumen and fundraising prowess, and sought to focus the campaign on the economy, energy, gasoline prices and taxes. He supports expanded domestic oil and gas production, as well as more nuclear, wind and solar energy use. He wants to cut taxes, curb government spending and use biometric technology to keep tabs on illegal immigrants.
Fimian campaign manager Zack Condry called on Connolly to condemn the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for its “smear campaign,” and said his campaign would continue to focus on economic issues.
“This is not about Keith Fimian’s religion,” said Kyra Jennings, DCCC spokeswoman. “It’s about educating voters on where he stands on issues like access to birth control, a woman’s right to choose and federal funding for stem cell research.”
