Huh?
The political story that has all us scruffy media types talking today:
Vernon Robinson, the former Winston-Salem alderman, has switched political contests.
Robinson had originally filed to run in the 12th Congressional race, putting him in a Republican primary against Ada Fisher for the right to run against Democratic incumbent Mel Watt in November.
But filing reports from the BOE and Robinson’s web site now show him as a candidate in the 13th Congressional District, a seat now occupied by Democrat Brad Miller. Robinson will have a primary in the 13th as well.
Update: I spoke with Robinson a while ago. As he wrote on his website, Robinson said that the 13th offered a better chance of winning the general election.
He really had little to say about his primary opponents, Charlie Sutherland of Mayodan and John Ross Hendrix of Cary other than he was sure all three agreed "Brad Miller is wrong on every issue."
In fact, Robinson seemed to be looking past the primary to the general eleciton. When asked about this, he said: "I'd just rather spend my scarce resources talking about his (Miller's) record and my record," calling Miller "ultra-liberal."
If things keep on this way, this primary is going to be a love-fest compared to the 2004 fracas in the fifth, where Robinson narrowly lost a primary run-off to now Congressman Virginia Foxx.
Comments (2)
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"Huh?" is puting it mildly. Charlie Sutherland and I were looking forward to a lively campaign, but knew things could change up until the last minute. What we did not expect was a "ringer" slipping in the back door.
Reported to be the best financed congressional candidate in the country, Mr. Robinson backed away from a battle he could lose in the 12th, to compete against us in a campaign where the Republican primary winner is sure to come out victorious against the Democrat incumbent. This move might be termed "practical" in a political sense if winning is all that counts. However, as an example of courage, I wouldn't want it on my resume!
The night before the last qualifying day, I was on a conference call with two Republican party officials who asked me to bow out of the congressional contest which THEY thought a Republican couldn't win, and instead, run for a state office where there was no Republican challenger. They offered training in state politics,(which I have not studied seriously enough)and to pay my new qualifying fee. Sensing something in the wind, I asked them about any new entries in the contest and they disavowed any knowlege. I told them my mind and course were set.
Those who know me know that I am NOT a coward and will not back down from this challenge. If this situation had happened earlier, with a viable candidate FROM the 13th district, I might have withdrawn and said "have fun, go for it."
Neither I nor anyone else living in the 13th district want this kind of "courage" and "practicality" in the face of heavy odds representing us. I will never be accused of "cherry picking" a contest to enter and I will always chose to represent the people of the district where I LIVE. "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my" have invaded my turf. I will defend it to my last dime, even if I have to pawn the computer from which this message is sent.
John Ross Hendrix
johnrhendrix@yahoo.com
www.hendrixcampaign.com
Posted on March 3, 2006 3:49 PM
All of this is very interesting.
I was waiting for a return call from Virgina Foxx when I got a call from Vernon Robinson asking me to drop out of the race. He said he didn't have enough money to beat Mel Watt and he had backing from the powers that be and would be changing his filing to the 13th district.
I told Vernon that I had to check with the folks I knew and would make my decision with some help from them. I seriously doubted that anyone wanted him, but I would give him the benefit of my doubts.
I got the return call shortly after from Virginia Fox (we go back a ways) who congratulated me for the guts to run, and I told her about Vernon's call. I think you should ask her what she said about Vernon's switch.
I later got a call from John Ross Hendrix while I was waiting to go to a meeting in Raleigh. I had never met John, but he seemed pleasant enough. I admit that I was not happy having to run in a primary, but felt up to the challenge. John had done very poorly against Richard Burr, and I was intending to wish him equal good luck in this race.
Anyway, John told me that he received a call from both Vernon and some party folks - all asking him to drop out for their own reasons exactly as he, John, stated in his note above.
I relayed all this information to some political folks who I had just met at the later meeting, and one person admitted to calling John Ross with the offer. I'm kinda new to this stuff and needed to find out whether I really wanted to be part of it. If the party had somebody in mind, then I would strongly consider their wishes. After all, I am a Republican, and I would need them to win this thing. I'm much more serious about the preservation of a Republican Congress than I am about being a congressman.
Anyway, the person, unnamed, assured me that Vernon was not at all their choice and they had made the call before the surprise switch and were very much annoyed with Vern's actions.
This is going to be an interesting race and I hope my limited funds will not be too much of a hindrance. I don't know how I am going to dissuade staunch supporters of Mr. Robinson, but I will ask folks to look real closely at his record before casting their vote.
Posted on March 25, 2006 10:37 AM