[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
|
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
United States News Title: Virgil Goode could run -- for president? Virgil Goode has worn a number of labels through the years -- state senator, congressman, Democrat, independent, Republican -- but now he's considering trying on a new title: United States presidential candidate. At its April meeting in Harrisburg, Pa., the national executive committee of the Constitution Party passed a resolution urging Goode to seek its presidential nomination next year. Goode, who's been making speeches at Constitution Party meetings for two years, said he's thinking about it. "I will consider it as the year progresses," Goode said when reached at his Rocky Mount office Thursday. He said he was first invited to speak at a Constitution Party meeting in Newark, N.J., in 2009, but otherwise declined to answer questions. "At this time I've said about all I'm going to say," Goode said. The Constitution Party's nominating convention in Nashville, Tenn., doesn't take place until April 2012, but the resolution sends a strong signal that the party's leaders want Goode to run. "While we could not officially nominate him yet, we do like him and I think he's got a pretty good chance," said Jim Clymer, the Constitution Party National Committee chairman. "There's nothing that I can see now that would prevent him from getting the nomination were he to say he indeed wants it." Virgil Goode Goode, 64, served in the Virginia Senate from 1973 until he was elected to Congress in 1993. He served there until 2008, when he was defeated by Democrat Tom Perriello by 727 votes. Republican state Sen. Robert Hurt of Chatham subsequently beat Perriello for the 5th District seat last fall. Goode began his political career as a Democrat but left the party in 2000. He was an independent for two years before becoming a Republican. Goode's outspoken opposition to abortion, big government, foreign entanglements and immigration -- mostly illegal but he wants to review laws on legal immigration as well -- have resonated with the Constitution Party, Clymer said. In addition to the Harrisburg and Newark gatherings, Goode spoke at meetings in Fort Worth, Texas, and Minneapolis. The Constitution Party was founded in 1991 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party by Howard Phillips, who is now the party's Virginia chairman. In the 2008 election the party said it was listed on the ballot in 37 states. Its presidential candidate, Chuck Baldwin, received 199,314 votes, or 0.15 percent of the popular vote. Fifth District Republican activist Tucker Martin managed Goode's 2008 campaign and has known him for years. "He would be a real step up from what they've had in the past as their national candidate, but I can't imagine him flying all over the country," Martin said. Former state Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, who was elected the same year as Goode, said he's "not surprised" that Goode's considering a presidential run. Marye said Goode's a "political animal" who can fire up a crowd with a speech as easily as he can rattle off trivia about otherwise long-forgotten campaigns and races. "And if an opportunity came up for him to do something like that [run for president], because of his love for politics I imagine he would do something like that," Marye said. Ed Lynch, a Republican political analyst and professor at Hollins University, said Goode's plain-spoken manner and willingness to stand by his principles will appeal to some voters, especially among tea party activists. But his speaking style and Southern Virginia accent may also hurt him in a national race. "He's effective in personal conversations, but I don't give him high marks as a public speaker," Lynch said. "And outside of Virginia, his accent is simply going to turn a lot of people off. That's a shallow way of judging things, but it's out there. Sarah Palin ran into that." But a Goode presidential candidacy could still change the dynamics of the race -- especially if Virginia becomes a tightly contested battleground state. If Goode draws enough votes from the Republican nominee, it could tilt the state for incumbent President Barack Obama, said Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, a Roanoke political consultant. "Whoever votes for Virgil was going to vote for a Republican, so in that region of the state it could be good for Obama, and that's an area that's tough on Democrats," Saunders said. "If Virgil runs, he's going to get some votes down there in the southern end of the 5th District. No question."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread |
|
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
|