Items by Kimball Payne

• GOP eyeing Virginia Sen. Webb as possible health care defector....

  —The Shad Plank

  National Republicans are searching the U.S. Senate rolls for Democratic allies, who might vote against a health care reform bill. And over the weekend, the GOP eyes started turning more aggressively toward to Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, a notoriously independent Democrat who has voted with the Republicans recently on a [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 11:54am EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Kaine fires back at GOP with tough letter on budget...

  —The Shad Plank

  There’s nothing quite like a sharp partisan shouting match, shrouded ever so slightly under the veil of official letterhead. Gov. Timothy M. Kainewasted little time before firing back at GOP leaders with a letter to a handful of powerful and plugged in GOPers that would probably require a explicit lyrics [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 6:29pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• GOP leaders warn Kaine not to put tax hikes in the state budget...

  —The Shad Plank

  The ranking Republicans in the General Assembly have come together to pen a letter to outgoing Gov. Timothy M. Kaine asking that the Democrat not put tax increases in the final state spending plan, due out next week. One of the final important duties of the departing governor is building [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 1:55pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• McDonnell taps Bolling Sledd and Polarek

  —The Shad Plank

  Here's the release click below for their bio's. Gov.elect Bob McDonnell announced that Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling will serve in his Cabinet as Virginia’s Chief Jobs Creation Officer. He appointed noted Richmond-area businessman Robert Sledd as Secretary of Commerce and Trade. Finally, he named longtime senior staff member, Janet Polarek,' [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 11:32am EST
  by Kimball Payne

• McDonnell to fillout more top economic advisor posts...

  —The Shad Plank

  Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell will take the stage in Richmond in about an hour to continue filling out the vacant seats in his administration. Last week, McDonnell named a handful of longtime state employees to top advisory roles, garnering a significant amount of praise for keeping Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's Secretary [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 10:03am EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Norment wants Tareq Salahi to resign from Virginia Tourism Board....

  —The Shad Plank

  Sen. Thomas K. "Tommy" Norment is calling on Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to ask for the resignation of social butterfly Tareq Salahi from the Virginia Tourism Board in the wake of the Salahi and his wife sneaking into the White House dinner last week. The Virginia couple has come under [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 12:19pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Federal Stimulus to bring technology jobs to Eastern Shore...

  —The Shad Plank

  Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced Thursday that Northampton County has qualified for $1 million worth of federal stimulus cash to upgrade broadband access along Virginia's Eastern Shore. The project is expected to create 20 technology jobs in Northampton. “Today we are announcing an important project on Virginia’s Eastern Shore that [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 3:35pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• McDonnell taps top advisors - keeps on Kaine's finance guru...

  —The Shad Plank

  Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell tapped top administration staffers on Thursday, naming a handful of close advisors including Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's finance chief Ric Brown. McDonnell, who handily won the governor's race, is starting to put in place the building blocks for the first Republican administration in Richmond since Gov. Jim [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 12:32pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Partisans predicting 2010 and 2012 in Washington this week...

  —The Shad Plank

  National political guru and partisan cheerleaders are sitting down in Washington on Thursday to breakdown the lay of the land as lawmakers across the country prepare for the 2010 midterm elections. Hosted by the University of Virginia and the site POLITICO, the event features some important movers and shakers sounding [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 4:08pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Virginia elections pulled in $50 million....

  —The Shad Plank

  When lawmakers and local leaders start howling about looming Virginia budget cuts, voters should remember the mounds of money that went into the November election. According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, Virginia general election candidates raised upwards of $50 million this year with June primary victims [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 1:12pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Gov. Kaine plans smoking ban events...

  —The Shad Plank

  With smoking in bars set to be banned when the clock hits midnight, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's office has set up a series of events to commemorate the day Virginia went smoke-free. Kaine will tour a series of bars and restaurants in Charlottesville, Alexandria and Richmond to celebrate the fact [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 3:46pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• The Republican advance comes to Williamsburg this weekend....

  —The Shad Plank

  Virginia Republicans are going to extend their victory party and bring the fest to Williamsburg this weekend for the Republican advance. For newcomers and neophytes, the GOP advance is the annual gathering where state Republicans get together for workshops and brainstorming sessions with statewide leaders and political insiders. The partisan [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 12:37pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Speaker Howell releases one paragraph ethics inquiry into Del. Hamilton

  —The Shad Plank

  House Speaker William J. Howell released today the results of the House Ethics inquiry into Del. Phil Hamilton's effort to land himself a $40,000 a year job at Old Dominion University while sponsoring the budget amendment that created a $500,000-a-year teaching center at the school. The report is essentially a [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 12:16pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Leading Lawmakers already talking about overtime in Richmond in 2010....

  —The Shad Plank

  Lawmakers always start taking about overtime in Richmond. Sometimes folks use it as a threat, suggesting that they could drag their feet on purpose to build pressure. Sometimes, state legislators simply need more time to hash through their differences, especially on state spending. But this year the early overtime warning [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 3:44pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Federal officials search capitol for evidence on Hamilton's ODU job.....

  —The Shad Plank

  Del. Phil Hamilton’s resignation from the House of Delegates might have snuffed out a state ethics probe, but it appears that federal investigators continue to dig for information about the once influential lawmaker’s $40,000-a-year job at Old Dominion University. House Clerk Bruce Jamerson told the Washington Post that federal investigators [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 4:29pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• President Obama considering not running for re-election?

  —The Shad Plank

  In an interview from China, President Barack Obama talked openly about the idea that he might not run for re-election in 2012. Obama, speaking with CNN on a wide range of topics - including Sarah Palin'snew book, said that he realizes he is already making difficult decisions about the future' [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 3:29pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Michelle Obama visits Virginia elementary school...

  —The Shad Plank

  First Lady Michelle Obamatoured an Alexandria elementary school on Tuesday to meet with faculty and student and present the school with an award for a healthier school environment. The event was designed to promote a more active student body to help cut down on childhood obesity, and the school is [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 1:14pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Webb and Warner pen note to FEMA...

  —The Shad Plank

  Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner are pressing federal officials to release disaster aid in the wake of last week’s powerful nor’easter that rocked Hampton Roads. In the letter, dated Nov. 16, Webb and Warner urge the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to speed up the review [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 12:30pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Hamilton concedes in House race

  —The Shad Plank

  Republican Del. Phil Hamilton conceded the House race to Democrat Robin Abbott shortly before 9 p.m. according to Abbott's campaign. Arguably the most powerful lawmaker in Hampton Roads, Hamilton is a well known fundraiser who wielded significant clout in Richmond as a budget negotiator and the ranking Republican on the [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:09pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• McDonnell victory speech at 9:30 p.m.

  —The Shad Plank

  Republican Bob McDonnell will deliver his victory speech at 9:30 p.m. tonight from Richmond. Again the speech can be viewed by going to McDonnell's campaign website www.bobmcdonnell.com. [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 8:29pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Republican Governors Association welcomes a new member...

  —The Shad Plank

  Here's the full statement from the RGA. “Bob McDonnell’s victory gives Republicans tremendous momentum heading into 2010,” said RGA Chairman Haley Barbour. “Virginia is an important swing state that had been trending blue for twelve years.” “Bob McDonnell proves that when Republicans campaign on solutions to the challenges on voters’ [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 8:22pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Kaine hits Larry King Live tonight and makes the morning rounds on TV....

  —The Shad Plank

  Virginia voters who want to get a real clear look at how the White House and national Democrats are reacting to the Virginia governor's race should take down Gov. Timothy M. Kaine schedule over the next 12 hours. Kaine serves as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and is also [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:34pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Five things to watch in Virginia election.....

  —The Shad Plank

  Politico has five things for political wonks to watch on Election Day in Virginia, and it appears as though the most important thing to be tracking is the clock. With Republican Bob McDonnell's double digit leads over Democrat Creigh Deeds, most pollsters are calling for the race to be over [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 3:51pm EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Palin making unrequested robo-calls for McDonnell campaign?

  —The Shad Plank

  Strange short item on the Washington Post website this morning about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin recording campaign phone calls for Republican Bob McDonnell. But apparently McDonnell's team had nothing to do with them? From Anita Kumar: Tucker Martin, a spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, said Palin's calls [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:22am EST
  by Kimball Payne

• Consumer Litigation Associates puts another $45,000 into Abbott's campaign..

  —The Shad Plank

  Len Bennett's deep pockets shelled out another $45,000 over the weekend for Democrat Robin Abbott's bid to knock of Del. Phil Hamilton. The Hamilton v. Abbott race looks to be coming down to the wire in the district that Hamilton has represented for years, but one that actually breaks pretty [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:14am EST
  by Kimball Payne

• GOP rally in Williamsburg Saturday, Dems rally in Hampton on Sunday....

  —The Shad Plank

  Republican are rallying in Williamsburg on Saturday near the tail end of a major statewide barnstorming tour. Republicans Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli will all be on hand: 3:45pm Rally at the James City County Victory Office 5251 John Tyler Highway Williamsburg. Meanwhile, Democrats Creigh Deeds, Jody Wagner [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 2:39pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Democratic NN mayor Joe Frank pens letter for Del. Phil Hamilton....

  —The Shad Plank

  Newport News Mayor Joe Frank has written a letter to city voters in support of Republican Del. Phil Hamilton is his re-election race against Democratic Robin Abbott. Frank, a Democrat, has been backing Hamilton for a long time, but the letter lays out the stakes pretty clearly in the race. [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 2:32pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Barack Obama pens letter to Virginia voters - more than 330,000 of them

  —The Shad Plank

  Democrats are trying to make sure that Virginia voters outside of Hampton Roads know that President Barack Obama is behind Creigh Deeds' run for Virginia governor. Obama hit Norfolk this week to stir up some excitement for Deeds campaign against Republican Bob McDonnell and now he's hitting about 330,000 Virginians' [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 2:25pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• McDonnell and Deeds launch new campaign ads, send around Obama video

  —The Shad Plank

  Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds are rolling out their final campaign ads for the gubernatorial election stressing the positive. Here's McDonnell's ad called Hope: Here's Deeds final ad titled Win: And here's the newest video shooting around the web thanks to Deeds campaign. The Democrats are clearly trying [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 5:21pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Romney won't endorse in New York's 23rd district race....

  —The Shad Plank

  Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Wednesday that he would not endorse the Republican candidate in the special election to fill New York's 23rd District seat. The statement adds weight to the GOP frenzy surrounding the special election in upstate New York. Republicans across the country are eying NY's 23 [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 3:48pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• McDonnell rallies with Mitt Romney at Virginia Beach oceanfront...

  —The Shad Plank

  Sure Democrats brought in the president, but Republican Bob McDonnellis slowly but surely attracting bigtime Republicans to his side during this campaign. This afternoon McDonnell will rally in Virginia Beach with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a one-time presidential contender in 2008, who eventually dropped out of the contest. When [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 10:52am EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Here are President Barack Obama's remarks from ...

  —The Shad Plank

  Here are President Barack Obama's remarks from Tuesday night at Old Dominion University - we ran through and picked out some highlights. "Hello, Virginia! It is good to be back in Norfolk and it is good to be back in Virginia, a place that has been so good to me." [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 6:05pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Obama tells packed house that work of 2008 isn't done....

  —The Shad Plank

  President Barack Obama spoke for about 20 minutes to a crowded house at Old Dominion University, imploring them to ignore the polls and go out and work over the final seven days of the campaign for Creigh Deeds. "I don't believe in can't. I don't believe in giving up," Obama' [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 4:47pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Huckabee in Richmond tonight as Del. Oder snags award...

  —The Shad Plank

  Former Republican presidential contenderMike Huckabee is in Richmond tonight headlining the Family Foundation's annual gala. Huckabee was the second to last man standing in the GOP free-for-all that eventually nominated Arizona Sen. John McCain in 2008. Huckabee was all but eliminated during the winter but kept on campaigning in Virginia, [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 2:49pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Kaine rallies Peninsula voters for Democrat Gary West....

  —The Shad Plank

  Just as President Barack Obama is rallying local voters to Creigh Deeds side, Gov. Timothy M. Kaineis planning to bring a little statewide ummph to Gary West's race for the House of Delegates. West, a Democrat, is pushing Republican Del. G. Glenn Oder, hoping that the same voters who showed [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 2:39pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Notre Dame legend Lou Holtz campaigns for McDonnell in Richmond tonight...

  —The Shad Plank

  Notre Dame coaching legend Lou Holtz is headlining a pigskins rally for Republican Bob McDonnell in Richmond tonight. Holtz, now the resident college football analyst on ESPN, is a former Army officer with an emotional, intense style and a deep faith that he frequently referenced while coaching the Fighting Irish. [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 2:11pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Hamilton hits Abbott for turning down CNU form....

  —The Shad Plank

  Del. Phil Hamilton is hitting his Democratic opponent Robin Abbott for turning down an invitation to a voter forum this Wednesday at Christopher Newport University. Hamilton folks clearly relish the opportunity to stack the Republican incumbent next to Abbott during voter forms because of Hamilton's comfort with the issues, breath' [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 1:11pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Democratic strategist Mudcat weighs in on anonymous White House leaks....

  —The Shad Plank

  Dave "Mudcat" Saundersdoes not sugarcoat things, and he didn't like the anonymous leaks coming out of the White House about Democrat Creigh Deeds matchup against Republican Bob McDonnell. Mudcat was on a conference call today and he didn't seem to mind putting up a R-rating on the "a source" story [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 3:19pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Warner and Webb hit trail for Deeds, who starts facing criticism from the White House

  —The Shad Plank

  Later today Sen. Jim Webb is kicking off an event in Northern Virginia for Democrat Creigh Deeds, who is pending just about all of Saturday campaigning through Lynchburg, Roanoke and Blacksburg with Sen. Mark Warner. Webb and Warner are powerful surrogates for Deeds final campaign push, but even as Deeds'' [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 12:01pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• RNC chief Steele rallies voters in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach today

  —The Shad Plank

  Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is rallying Republican voters in Chesapeake and Newport News today, and the GOP prepares for the get-out-the-vote effort to back Bob McDonnell. Steele has been a magnet for news over the past 10 months or so, drawing headlines for his attempts to re-brand the [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 11:16am EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• McDonnell and Deeds sound off on International Paper....

  —The Shad Plank

  Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds are both focusing on the economy and job creation on the campaign trail so it's no surprise that they're going out of their way to react to the news that International Paper is shutting down in Franklin. McDonnell had this to say: "For" [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 2:48pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Newsweek hits Kaine on his work as DNC chief....

  —The Shad Plank

  Number of comments: 1
  Newsweek has a fresh article questioning Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's leadership of the Democratic National Committee - under the headline - "why is Tim Kaine so low-key as DNC chair?" The story takes issue with Kaine lack of major public appearances since taking a second "part-time" job when President Barack' [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 12:04pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Catch Shannon and Cuccinelli in live AG debate this afternoon....

  —The Shad Plank

  Democrat Steve Shannon and Republican Ken Cuccinelli have been fighting for airtime on the campaign trail this fall and today they have the final debate of the campaign hosted by the Richmond Bar Association. The crowd is going to be primed up to see the attorney general candidates, and Shannon [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 10:34am EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Want Obama tickets for next Tuesday?

  —The Shad Plank

  So far the details are thin, but at least there's a place where you can get your name on the list for next week's Barack Obama and Creigh Deeds rally at Old Dominion University. Apparently the rally is happening in the mid-afternoon. Click here to head over to the Deeds [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 3:31pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Quick round up of Obama's 2008 visits to Hampton Roads...

  —The Shad Plank

  OBAMA IN HAMPTON ROADS Feb. 10 Thousands filled the Virginia Beach Convention Center to get their first live glimpse of candidate Barack Obama, who was still battling fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton. "This has got to be the biggest political rally in Virginia Beach history," said Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 11:53am EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Obama's focus on Hampton Roads revisited...

  —The Shad Plank

  Here's the text of story we printed when President Barack Obama was sworn in, highlighting the major role that Hampton Roads ended up playing in the race for the White House. The story is telling now that Obama is returning to Hampton Roads to stump for Democrat Creigh Deeds in' [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 11:49am EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Obama to Hampton Roads, Democrats confirm Oct. 27 rally at Old Dominion

  —The Shad Plank

  President Barack Obama is returning to Hampton Roads next week to rally voters for Democrat Creigh Deeds. Democrats confirmed on Wednesday that Obama will rally voters at Old Dominion University next Tuesday, exactly one week before Virginia voters head to the polls. Deeds is trailing in most polls to Republican [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 11:29am EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• New Poll: Deeds needs to turn out 200,000 - 300,000 Democrats planning to stay home

  —The Shad Plank

  Democrat Creigh Deeds has 13 days to convince hundreds of thousands of Democrats to get out to vote on Nov. 3, according to a new poll from Public Policy Polling. Recent polls have been all over the map in the race between Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell, but just about [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 11:01am EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Deeds hits lunch rush in Newport News....

  —The Shad Plank

  Democrat Creigh Deeds is making a campaign sprint through the lunch rush in Newport News, planning to hit three popular spots for mid-day grub to shake hands and reach out to voters.

  Deeds, a Bath County Democrat, is in town for the next couple of days, including a Thursday night [...]

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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 10:37am EDT
  by Kimball Payne

• Here's the link to watch tonight's McDonnell v. Deeds debate....

  —The Shad Plank

  If you want to watch the final debate between Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds just click here.

  The video is live streaming so it might still be up and running in the morning, but we'll check the link to make sure you're not heading off to nowhere.  

  [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 6:33pm EDT
  by Kimball Payne