Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Longtime politico from Mount Vernon says it's time to get out of politics following his Nov. 6 election loss to Tim Kaine.
A fixture in Virginia politics is hanging up his hat. George Allen, the former governor and U.S. senator who makes his home with his family in Mount Vernon, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he has "no intention of running for office again." He and wife Susan “put our heart and soul into this campaign,” he told the newspaper. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he is "disappointed" to hear that Allen has taken himself out of the political arena after losing his Senate race last week to Tim Kaine. It was the second Senate race Allen lost, after losing his seat to Jim Webb in 2006. "Two big losses in a row make it tough for George Allen to try yet again to make a comeback," said Mark Rozell, professor of Public Policy at George Mason …
Friday, November 9, 2012
New Virginia senator says first order of business is to work on good solutions to nation's debt.
Tim Kaine (D), Virginia's newly-elected U.S. Senator, says his first order of business will be to lobby for longterm solutions for the country's fiscal situation. Kaine held a press conference in Richmond on Wednesday, one day after he defeated former Virginia governor and senator George Allen (R) in the general election. Kaine, governor of the state from 2006-10, earned 52 percent of the vote to Allen's 48 on Tuesday. Kaine takes over the seat vacated by Sen. Jim Webb (D), who is retiring after one term. Webb defeated Allen in a similarly close Senate race in 2006. “The key for us in public office is to read the message from the electorate,” Kaine told reporters. “They want cooperative government. They are telling us over and over and …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The Senate candidate cast his vote in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday in Virginia.
Republican Senate candidate George Allen and wife Susan Allen met with reporters shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday outside their home precinct, Washington Mill Elementary School in Mount Vernon. "Did I get any sleep last night? Not that much," George Allen said. "We're happy this day has come," he said. "It's a day for decision, and it's our generation's rendezvous with destiny. I'm optimistic that Virginians will stand strong for freedom and opportunity for all." On the rest of the day's activities for George and Susan Allen: "We've got to get in here and vote," he said. "That's the most important thing. Susan will be going to other precincts around Northern Virginia. I'm going to be heading out to Loudoun and back to Fairfax and Prince …
Patch will bring you updates throughout Election Day as two former Virginia governors face off for an open Senate seat.
The U.S. Senate race in Virginia lived up to its reputation going into Tuesday's election, as being a tight race between two former governors. Final unofficial results around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday showed Tim Kaine with 51.89 percent of the state vote to Republican challenger George Allen's 47.92 percent of the vote across Virginia. Kaine won by comfortable margins in Northern Virginia jurisdictions, defeating Allen 71.40 percent to 28.42 percent in Falls Church; 60.53 percent to 39.01 percent in Fairfax County; and 65.83 to 33.86 percent in Arlington County, according to the State Board of Elections. As of 1:33 a.m. Wednesday, all precincts in the state had reported their results. Update 11:21 p.m.: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell congratulated …
Monday, November 5, 2012
By Susan Allen
- OPINION
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Monday, November 5, 2012
For nearly two years, George and I have spent much of our time traveling throughout our beautiful Commonwealth, listening to the voices and stories of Virginians. It’s been a wonderful experience to meet so many families and visit hundreds of small businesses who all share a vision of a better future. We’ve listened as Virginians expressed concerns over the rising costs of electricity and healthcare and stories of job losses, small businesses shutting down, and students having to move back home with mom and dad. This is not the future we hoped to pass on to our children and grandchildren. But throughout our travels, we’ve also seen families and small businesses standing strong, determined to succeed despite tough times because they share …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Voters for President Barack Obama or Gov. Mitt Romney may split their ticket and not vote a straight Democrat or Republican ticket down the ballot; "split ticket voters" could affect election prospects for Senate candidates George Allen and Tim Kaine.
Driving through Northern Virginia, it's quite rare to see yards with signs revealing that a homeowner plans to vote both Republican and Democrat on Nov. 6. Even if they don't openly proclaim their split-ticket status, they're out there, according to polling. These "split ticket voters" plan to step into the polling booth on Election Day to vote for a Republican and a Democrat: Voting for President Barack Obama and Republican Senate candidate George Allen, or for Republican presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney and Democratic Senate candidate Tim Kaine. "It is a real possibility that Romney could win Virginia while George Allen loses," said Mark Rozell, professor of Public Policy at George Mason University. "Some polls have shown that Tim…
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate lays out differences with his opponent Saturday to supporters, volunteers in Fairfax Station.
Just 17 days away from Election Day, Tim Kaine, Virginia's Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate race, criticized his Republican opponent George Allen Saturday on a number of issues at a Democratic campaign office in Fairfax Station. Kaine, who thanked volunteers and spoke for about 20 minutes, laid out differences between he and Allen on three issues: The economy, the federal budget and finding common ground in Washington. "This is just a dead-heat race," said Kaine of his Senate campaign. "In the President's race, this is the closest ballot in the country… There's no other state that is as close as Virginia." Kaine is leading Allen 50-45, according to a recent survey by Public Policy Polling. Kaine on the economy "George's attitude …
Friday, October 12, 2012
U.S. Senate candidate responds to 10 questions posed by Patch readers in Northern Virginia.
A few weeks ago, we asked Patch readers in Northern Virginia to throw out some questions for George Allen and Tim Kaine, both vying for the U.S. Senate seat in Virginia. So you asked and the candidates answered. Read George Allen's responses here. Tim Kaine's answers, published below, are unedited. 1. There is considerable reporting in the popular media that Social Security and Medicare are in financial ruin and in need of a fix, but every time one person dares to speak-up and suggest constructive measures to save the system, the other candidate attacks that person for being insensitive to the needs of seniors and claims the proponent of modifications wants to dismantle the programs. How would you address these issues knowing full well …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
U.S. Senate candidates answer questions posed by our Northern Virginia readers.
Last month, Patch asked our readers in Northern Virginia for a favor. We wanted to submit questionnaires to both U.S. Senate candidates in Virginia and we wanted our readers to come up with the questions. You all delivered. Patch posed a list of 10 questions to former governors and U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine (D) and George Allen (R), ranging in topics from Social Security to drug abuse in high schools. The candidates responded and we've published their answers online.
U.S. Senate candidate responds to 10 questions posed by Patch readers in Northern Virginia.
A few weeks ago, we asked Patch readers in Northern Virginia to throw out some questions for George Allen and Tim Kaine, both vying for the open U.S. Senate seat in Virginia. So you asked and the candidates answered. Read Tim Kaine's responses here. George Allen's answers, published below, are unedited. 1. There is considerable reporting in the popular media that Social Security and Medicare are in financial ruin and in need of a fix, but every time one person dares to speak-up and suggest constructive measures to save the system, the other candidate attacks that person for being insensitive to the needs of seniors and claim the proponent of modifications wants to dismantle the programs. How would you address these issues knowing full …
Holman Willis
9:38 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
For years, Virginia's governors have been seen as statesmen, certainly supporting their party's ideals, but, at least publicly, refraining from the partisan mud-slinging that we have seen from the candidates for office at both the state and federal levels. One governor of Virginia was even heard to say, when asked if he would run for president of the United States, "Why would I want to run for a … more ›