CUCCINELLI’S COMEBACK: ‘KEN FIGHTS FOR VIRGINIANS’
Not panicked by three straight polls showing Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli stuck behind campaign leader Terry McAuliffe, the Republican is shifting his effort into high gear with an aggressive plan to portray himself as somebody who has “always fought for Virginians.”
The strategy kicked off when the Cuccinelli campaign released a new and positive TV ad showing how he helped free a jailed African American man wrongly accused of rape. Campaign officials told Secrets that other similar ads and events will follow highlighting Cuccinelli’s moves to help or protect Virginians while he was attorney general.
The theme will be “Ken fought for Virginians,” said an aide. “This is the side of Ken that we are going to be making a big push on,” added the aide.
At the same time the campaign will be contrasting Cuccinelli’s record in Virginia with McAuliffe’s national role as Democratic Party chief and fundraiser for the Clintons. That theme: “What has Terry fought for besides his wallet?”
With both candidates suffering from high negative ratings, GOP strategists said the Cuccinelli plan could help the Republican build a positive Image while putting a negative tag on McAuliffe, who has never held public office and whose Virginia businesses are under scrutiny.
Some political analysts have moved the race into the “lean Democratic” category, believing that it is getting too late for Cuccinelli to stage a comeback. But campaign officials note that Virginia races have a history of breaking late.
Behind McAuliffe by an average of 5 to 6 points in polls, Cuccinelli will have to thread the needle to pull off an upset. “It’s possible,” Virginia politics expert Larry Sabato told Secrets. “But very tough.”
HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT? MAYBE
Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor and Democratic Party boss who tripped in his run for president in 2004, has started to hint that he might be up for another bid, especially if Hillary Clinton leaves the 2016 field.
Dean stirred up speculation with a recent speech in Iowa and a planned trip to New Hampshire followed by this comment about his potential candidacy last week to Vermont Public Radio: “I’m intending to support Hillary, assuming she runs. So the answer is it’s unlikely.”
His refusal to shut the door has some allies of the progressive politico eager to help. Some suggested that his trips around the nation to promote health care and liberal candidates are a good starting point for a national race. They believe that if Hillary doesn’t run and Democrats started a “Draft Dean” movement, he’d bite.
BRING BACK HOUSE PAGE PROGRAM
The House Page Program, which existed for nearly 200 years before being killed two years ago, may be poised for a comeback.
Former pages associated with an alumni group are mounting an effort to revive the program and some current House members are eager for it to return. Key to the campaign is a new documentary detailing the past successes of the program that gave academic achievers an insiders view of Congress.
In August of 2011, House Democratic and Republican leaders announced that the program would end. They cited the $5 million annual budget and changes brought by the digital age that reduced the need for blue-suited male and female pages to run messages between lawmakers.
But some members said the experience gained in the education program was worth the price. “I think the page program was a huge asset to our body, but also especially to the individuals who were able to participate in that,” Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Price recently told Secrets.
THIS TOWN: HILL VS. MEDIA SPELLING BEE
Neither the popular book “This Town” about Washington’s incestuous relationships, nor the specter of former Vice President Dan Quayle’s infamous spelling of “potatoe,” are slowing the planning for a rare 100-year event: a spelling bee contest between the media and lawmakers.
The National Press Club is reenacting the last bee, which occurred in 1913 and was attended by President Wilson. An Ohio congressman won.
The event on September 18 will crown the “Best Speller in the United States.” Among those slated to spell words submitted by Merriam-Webster are: Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, California Rep. Anna Eshoo, CBS’ Major Garrett, Fox News’ Ed Henry, and Howard Fineman of Huffington Post.
Scoffed one longtime political consultant, “Why would a politician risk misspelling potato?”
Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
