RonPaulFanInGA
06-09-2008, 10:14 AM
Traditional conservative to face libertarian alternative on the June 10 Republican primary ballot
http://connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=315722&paper=59&cat=104
Virginia’s eighth congressional district, long held by incumbent Rep. Jim Moran (D-8), is not typically considered Republican territory. Yet the G.O.P. primary has taken a heightened importance this spring in advance of the June 10 balloting, with voters facing a choice between traditional conservative Mark Ellmore and libertarian alternative Amit Singh. The campaign that has pitted establishment figures against grassroots activists in a race that could determined the future of the Republican Party in Northern Virginia and even beyond. Next week’s primary comes at a time when party leaders have been stunned by losing special elections in solidly Republican districts in Illinois Louisiana and Mississippi.
"Should Singh win the nomination, he will offer voters in November a brand of Republicanism very different from the one they are used to," wrote Daniel McCarthy in the June 2 issue of American Conservative magazine. "If that brand can win converts in this heavily Democratic district, it may point the way toward Republican revival in places like Illinois, Louisiana and Mississippi."
Ellmore supporters describe their candidate as a traditional Republican candidate who shares the worldview of President George W. Bush, a compassionate conservative who sees an active role for government in supporting Christian values. Since loosing the Republican primary for the eighth congressional district in 2006, Ellmore has been steadily building support from establishment figures and party leaders. His list of endorsements includes Alexandria City Republican Committee Chairman Chris Marston, Sen. Jay O’Brien (R-39) and former Alexandria Vice Mayor Bill Cleveland.
"The Amit Singh supporters are a bunch of Ron Paul wingnuts," said Mike Lane, former chairman of the Eighth District Republican Committee. "They’re very active, very enthused and very crazy. Our challenge will be keeping them from hijacking a low-turnout election."
THE LOOMING PRESENCE of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has hovered over the primary campaign, with supports and detractors of the longshot Republican presidential candidate acting as a sort of Rorschach test for gauging support. Like Paul, Singh has carved out an ideological place for himself in the campaign that is against the war in Iraq, in favor of limited government and starkly opposed to the current power structure within the Republican Party. Records filed with the Federal Elections Commission show that Singh has raised more than twice as much money as Ellmore, building a $58,000 war chest with more than $25,000 heading into the final days before the primary.
"We’ve got a broad base of support that will be necessary to win in this district," said Navdeep Singh, press secretary for the Singh campaign. "Amit has a network in place that will be the most effective in challenging Jim Moran in the general election."
Both candidates contributed about $10,000 to their own campaigns, although Ellmore added an additional $5,000 loan to his fundraising totals. The federal documents show that Ellmore raised a total of $24,000, with about $17,000 heading into the final days of the election. Ellmore supporters acknowledge that Singh has been able to raise more money, but they are quick to point out the impressive list of party insiders that have signed on to their campaign. Last week, for example, the Ellmore campaign announced the support of former Fairfax County supervisor Mychelle Brickner, former Fairfax County School Board member Steve Hunt and former congressional candidate Lisa Marie Cheney.
"Mark is the only compatible candidate to stand with John McCain in November on the Republican ticket," said Daniel Tillson, Ellmore’s campaign manager. "Most Republicans here in Northern Virginia recognize that it is out duty to nominate a candidate who will stand by our core principles which is why they are backing Ellmore in the primary."
http://connectionnewspapers.com/photos/315722_64154656b.jpg
Mark Ellmore
Mark Ellmore, 49: A native of the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, Ellmore is a senior consultant at Countrywide Bank who led an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in the eight congressional district in 2006. After Thomas O’Donoghue won the primary and lost in the general election, Ellmore started putting the pieces into place for another run this year. He casts himself as is a Christian conservative who sees an active role for government to play in promoting family values and curbing illegal immigration. He supports building a fence along the Mexican border and limiting medical damages from what he calls "frivolous lawsuits."
http://connectionnewspapers.com/photos/315722_64154826b.jpg
Amit Singh
Amit Singh, 33: A native of Colonial Heights, Va., Singh is an engineer who works with the intelligence community. He announced his candidacy in an Old Town in March last month. Singh is a fiscal conservative who has launched a libertarian challenge to Ellmore’s candidacy, arguing that government should take a reduced role in the lives of Americans. The starkest contrast between the candidates is the war in Iraq, with Singh supporting a "phased troop reduction."
The primary is tomorrow.
YouTube video of Ron Paul endorsing Amit Singh (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6LbXZOUtVA)
http://connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=315722&paper=59&cat=104
Virginia’s eighth congressional district, long held by incumbent Rep. Jim Moran (D-8), is not typically considered Republican territory. Yet the G.O.P. primary has taken a heightened importance this spring in advance of the June 10 balloting, with voters facing a choice between traditional conservative Mark Ellmore and libertarian alternative Amit Singh. The campaign that has pitted establishment figures against grassroots activists in a race that could determined the future of the Republican Party in Northern Virginia and even beyond. Next week’s primary comes at a time when party leaders have been stunned by losing special elections in solidly Republican districts in Illinois Louisiana and Mississippi.
"Should Singh win the nomination, he will offer voters in November a brand of Republicanism very different from the one they are used to," wrote Daniel McCarthy in the June 2 issue of American Conservative magazine. "If that brand can win converts in this heavily Democratic district, it may point the way toward Republican revival in places like Illinois, Louisiana and Mississippi."
Ellmore supporters describe their candidate as a traditional Republican candidate who shares the worldview of President George W. Bush, a compassionate conservative who sees an active role for government in supporting Christian values. Since loosing the Republican primary for the eighth congressional district in 2006, Ellmore has been steadily building support from establishment figures and party leaders. His list of endorsements includes Alexandria City Republican Committee Chairman Chris Marston, Sen. Jay O’Brien (R-39) and former Alexandria Vice Mayor Bill Cleveland.
"The Amit Singh supporters are a bunch of Ron Paul wingnuts," said Mike Lane, former chairman of the Eighth District Republican Committee. "They’re very active, very enthused and very crazy. Our challenge will be keeping them from hijacking a low-turnout election."
THE LOOMING PRESENCE of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has hovered over the primary campaign, with supports and detractors of the longshot Republican presidential candidate acting as a sort of Rorschach test for gauging support. Like Paul, Singh has carved out an ideological place for himself in the campaign that is against the war in Iraq, in favor of limited government and starkly opposed to the current power structure within the Republican Party. Records filed with the Federal Elections Commission show that Singh has raised more than twice as much money as Ellmore, building a $58,000 war chest with more than $25,000 heading into the final days before the primary.
"We’ve got a broad base of support that will be necessary to win in this district," said Navdeep Singh, press secretary for the Singh campaign. "Amit has a network in place that will be the most effective in challenging Jim Moran in the general election."
Both candidates contributed about $10,000 to their own campaigns, although Ellmore added an additional $5,000 loan to his fundraising totals. The federal documents show that Ellmore raised a total of $24,000, with about $17,000 heading into the final days of the election. Ellmore supporters acknowledge that Singh has been able to raise more money, but they are quick to point out the impressive list of party insiders that have signed on to their campaign. Last week, for example, the Ellmore campaign announced the support of former Fairfax County supervisor Mychelle Brickner, former Fairfax County School Board member Steve Hunt and former congressional candidate Lisa Marie Cheney.
"Mark is the only compatible candidate to stand with John McCain in November on the Republican ticket," said Daniel Tillson, Ellmore’s campaign manager. "Most Republicans here in Northern Virginia recognize that it is out duty to nominate a candidate who will stand by our core principles which is why they are backing Ellmore in the primary."
http://connectionnewspapers.com/photos/315722_64154656b.jpg
Mark Ellmore
Mark Ellmore, 49: A native of the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, Ellmore is a senior consultant at Countrywide Bank who led an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in the eight congressional district in 2006. After Thomas O’Donoghue won the primary and lost in the general election, Ellmore started putting the pieces into place for another run this year. He casts himself as is a Christian conservative who sees an active role for government to play in promoting family values and curbing illegal immigration. He supports building a fence along the Mexican border and limiting medical damages from what he calls "frivolous lawsuits."
http://connectionnewspapers.com/photos/315722_64154826b.jpg
Amit Singh
Amit Singh, 33: A native of Colonial Heights, Va., Singh is an engineer who works with the intelligence community. He announced his candidacy in an Old Town in March last month. Singh is a fiscal conservative who has launched a libertarian challenge to Ellmore’s candidacy, arguing that government should take a reduced role in the lives of Americans. The starkest contrast between the candidates is the war in Iraq, with Singh supporting a "phased troop reduction."
The primary is tomorrow.
YouTube video of Ron Paul endorsing Amit Singh (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6LbXZOUtVA)