Surprise, surprise! It’s getting interesting now. Let’s take a look at what he had to say…
Here’s the text of his speech…
“Today I have filed the paperwork with the Federal Election Commission necessary to seek the Republican nomination for election to the United States Congress from the Fifth District.
“Over the last few months, I have met with many residents and Republican leaders across the Fifth District. I have come away from these meetings struck by the urgent sense among our people that if the current course of this great country is not quickly changed, we will soon be left with a nation of more government, more taxes, fewer jobs, and even fewer liberties.
“As a conservative who has represented a significant portion of the Fifth District for the past eight years, I believe that now, more than ever, our district requires a proven conservative leader to serve as its voice in Washington. As I have during my time in Richmond, I will fight to promote small businesses and new jobs, I will fight against the runaway taxing and spending in Washington, and I will always be a strong voice for our common sense conservative Virginia values.
“Because of the enormity of this task, I have concluded that we must file the paperwork now. However, I will delay any formal announcement of my candidacy until after we have completed the important work now before us: the election of Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli in November – the Republican team that will bring renewed conservative leadership to Richmond.”
That’s a relatively safe speech for an election that’s 13 months away. I do notice that he didn’t mention Perriello by name, but that plays into the “safe” speech concept.
Hot D*mn! if Southern Virginia sticks together, we can have Robert Hurt as our Congressman.
also, highly placed Republican from Lunenburg overheard one of the Albemarle “candidates” tell a new 5th CD resident that the 5th district consisted of “Albemarle, Greene & those counties south of here to the border”.
I’m tired of being ignored. Southside, stick together with Hurt!
As a Perriello voter who is open to both parties, I have to welcome the Republicans to this race. I could absolutely see myself voting for Hurt. With that said, I have a feeling the 5th is going to look a good bit different for the 2012 race due to redistricting and the persistent shift in population from the south and west of the state to the north and east. If Hurt loses, I would not be shocked to see another opportunity for him in 2012, when this area may be separated from Charlottesville in the redistricting process.
I don’t think they are going to separate Danville from Charlottesville in redistricting, unless they think they can create a democratic enclave by doing so, and obviously with the current demographics, they already have one of those.