I didn’t mean to say that we would have challengers for every Republican in the County. I was speaking merely in regard to the Gainesville District. Looking back at the letter, my language could have been a bit more precise on that point.

And, just for the record, I’ve never used the term “Walkinshaw magic” whilst “regaling” the press (or for any other purpose). It would be kinda funny if I did though…

But you’re right in a few regards. If Democrats want to actually pose credible challenges, we’ve got to work on organization at the lowest levels and not focus so much on central party leadership or county-level squabbles. Organizing at the precinct level, not just the Magesterial District level is the first step. Get people energized for their local candidates and draw on the support seen for Webb and Kaine within in the County. Field candidates in the mold of someone like Jim Webb or Mark Warner who clearly were not “traditional” Democrats and hold appeal across party lines, even in areas where someone as conservative as Bob Marshall sits as an encumbent.

The final piece is to put together the support and funding network to actually put together a respectable campaign. A Democrat in Brentsville, for instance, will have a hard time matching the developer gifts to a candidate like Wally Covington and the geographic size of the Brentsville District makes it a little harder to mount a door-to-door campaign. Let’s face it. Campaigns in Northern Virginia are expensive and the Republican Party seems to be a bit better at getting large donors(whether they live in the district or even in the state or not) to pony up the cash needed to mount a campaign.

I’m not sure I’d be so quick to write-off some candidates though. While Marshall had a comfortable margin the last time around, Roemmelt (brand new to the scene) did pretty well against an entrenched encumbent. The traditional cannon fodder put up against such entrenched encumbents usually clock in around 30-35%. Marshall’s “no” vote on the transportation bill may haunt him (whether you like the bill or not, for those not familiar with the details, it will be spun that Marshall voted against a transportation solution at a time when his constituents really want transportation answers).

Democrats in PWC have the record of the Republican party in PWC that has been in the majority for the last 15 years to run against. A record that doesn’t look too great when light is cast upon it. In addition to that the demographics, etc. are all starting to shift Democratic in PWC.

There are numerous Democrats running for office that will be announcing soon. One indiviudal running for Clerk of the Clerk is actually more qualified than Lucy and McQuigg. I think you will be suprised by the quality and depth of the Democratic bench this year.