Webb Campaign Shores Up Staff By Adding Virginia Campaign Veteran to Head Metro Richmond Effort Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Posted by Conaway B. Haskins III in Uncategorized.trackback
In a move that is certain to allay some fears among old-school Democrats regarding the Webb Senate campaign, it appears that long-time Democratic Party activist Abbi Easter has been brought on to manage the operations of the campaign’s newly-established Metro Richmond office. In some ways, this marks the beginning of a larger Webb push into Central and Southern Virginia. In 2005, Easter helped Del. Rosalyn Dance fend off a pesky independent challenger to retain the 63rd District House of Delegates seat that Dance initially won in a special election in the Spring of 2005. She initially worked on Emily Couric’s prospective run for Lt. Governor, which was sadly cut short by the candidate’s fatal battle with cancer. Afterward, Easter ran Del. Donald McEachin’s statewide bid for Attorney General. Over the years, she has consulted or volunteered for a number of successful local and state races throughout Central Virginia, having some successes in GOP-heavy localities. In 1998, she won the Democratic National Committee’s Lawrence O’Brien award for her volunteer service to Democratic causes.
Against the backdrop of a blogger-prominent campaign to date, Easter is well-connected to the more traditional VirginiaDemocratic “establishment,” and she is well-regarded among the core of the Democratic base of women’s, African American, and labor interests. Having already brought on Larry Byrne as Field Director, the addition of Abbi Easter adds a bit more heft and an infusion of grayer hair to the Webb campaign operations. This should assuage some concerns coming from some corners of the Democratic grassroots and netroots about the presence of campaign staffers without significant Virginia statewide experience outside of Steve Jarding.
On some level, the staffing of the Webb campaign has fallen victim to Virginia Democrats’ own recent electoral success. Governor Warner cultivated quite a bit of talent during his two statewide runs, and when he was elected, many of those people served in and around his administration or received other opportunities. With Warner’s current foray into presidential politics, it stands to reason that a significant talent base of his supporters is focused on the 2008 race. By the same token, many of Governor Kaine’s key campaign staff and advisers are now focused on helping him manage the business of the Commonwealth. For those who called for the addition of Harris Miller’s former campaign staff to the post-primary Webb campaign, it was a bit of a stretch to imagine that they would jump over to Webb in droves given the contentiousness of the race that thankfully ended last month.
For Webb supporters (including this writer), the addition of old hands like Easter and Byrne should signal a welcome leap forward for this heretofore unorthodox, yet fascinating, effort.
Yipee!
Excellent choice and great news for the Webb campaign. Abbi Easter’s experience and knowledge of Virginia politics will provide the direction needed to win. Glad to hear about this appointment.
ABBI EASTER RAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A comment, not meant to be derogatory, but why has Abbie Easter never been able to have any effect in Chesterfield where she lives?
[...] Webb critics will point to the initial opposition to his candidacy on the part of some members of the Legislative Black Caucus. However, contrary to the naysayers, the fact remains that a majority of the state’s 17 black legislators chose to stay neutral during the primary, preferring to focus their energies on the general election race against Allen. The 12 House members and 5 Senate members represent approximately 1/3 of Virginia’s total black population, and as loyal Democrats, Webb has their support firmly in tow. With Brown in place, and Larry Byrne and Abbi Easter already on the Webb team, the campaign is poised to make a big push into Virginia’s heartland as it heads toward Labor Day. [...]
I understand that you and other bloggers may strike me down for what I am about to write, but I feel strong enough about this issue to comment. Thank you for this forum.
First, I think it is a terrific idea that Mr. Webb has hired Mr. Michael Brown to focus on African American outreach. But it has been two months since the primary, a primary where many people worried that Webb may have a tough time attracting African American voters in November. Why has this taken so long? Why has the African American leadership not jumped in with immediate unity for Mr. Webb?
My sources tell me that the majority of the Senate and Delegate Democratic caucuses are not very interested in a full-blown support effort for Mr. Webb. Mr. Webb has not had good meetings with some of those elected officials, and Mr. Byrne’s past has a few Delegates and Senators skeptical of his role in field activities.
I’ve heard some real nice things about Ms. Easter, but I have also heard that she has little money and infrastructure to get off the ground quickly. In Ms. Easter’s defense, she was just hired in late July. That also begs another question, why so late to hire a Richmond head? That was frustrating too, considering how much support (money and votes) that Mr. Webb needs from the Richmond area.
I’m tire of often hearing, “Don’t worry…things will shape up in the next week or two.” I’ve been hearing that since mid-June. This campaign is very far behind, so I’ll beg the question again, why is Mr. Brown coming in so late in the game?
Oops, sorry about the above comment. Was meant for the news of Mr. Brown’s addition to the Webb staff.
[...] The rise of Democratic voices in Chesterfield comes against the backdrop of a very competitive and interesting political season. Democrats are vigorously supporting Dan Gecker’s bid to serve out the remaining term for the Midlothian District supervisor seat, are helping Jim Nachman’s grassroots campaign to unseat Eric Cantor, and are working hard to send Sen. Allen into new employment come January. Additionally, county Republicans seem somewhat divided after months of internal jockeying for committee positions and past/future electoral nominations. Additionally, there appears to be an emerging divide among the GOP-dominated Board of Supervisors and their Republican brethren in the county’s General Assembly delegation over issues like transportation and taxation. Add to that the emergence of independent-minded citizen’s organizations willing to challenge the status quo, and the future could look a bit bluer for Chesterfield Republicans on several fronts. [...]