CR Nation

In light of last week’s posts highlighting CR election efforts around the country, different sources have reported a lack of effort in a special election last month.

The Massachusetts 5th District had been represented by Democrat Marty Meehan for more than 14 years. Looking at the last three elections, Meehan won with 60% of the vote in 2002, with 66% of the vote in 2004 and was unopposed in 2006. When he retired, the seat was supposed to remain in the Democratic column.

Republican Jim Ogonowski nearly pulled off the upset, losing by a narrow 51-45 margin.

According to CR Nation moles, the Massachusetts College Republicans (MACR) were AWOL the weekend before the election. Instead of volunteering, MACR was holding its fall convention, proudly proclaiming that 100 people attended.

The large turnout at convention came at the expense of a fine Republican candidate who was within striking distance.

College Republicans might not have made up all six points, but a strong volunteer turnout the weekend before the election might have turned out a stronger vote on Election Day.

Brian Gwozdz and the rest of the MACR leadership have some explaining to do. It’s all fine and nice to have fun get-togethers, but when a Republican candidate is in need, College Republicans need to be there.

Mississippi College Republican Chair has lots of people to thank for the success her state experienced on Tuesday night.

Mississippi Republicans enjoyed an overwhelming victory in all ten of our statewide elections except in the office of Attorney General.

Jess sends a shout out to –

The Mississippi College Republicans for an overwhelming turnout and their efforts to find everyone from their neighbor to their cousin to go door to door for our 72 hour. The College Republican effort in Mississippi did not go unnoticed.

My chapter chairs, you guys are amazing!! I am so proud of all of you!

Alan Sypert, LA CR Chair, for Louisiana’s efforts to get people to our coast

Daniel Swanson, OK CR Chair, and the Oklahoma CRs.

Jonathan Bryant, TN CR Chair, and the Tennesee CRs.

Craig McCoy, CO CR Chair, and the Colorado CRs.

Drew White and the Auburn University CRs.

The CRNC.

And here is what they had to say –

The Valley remained the conservative base of Virginia, shaking off resurgent Democrats and sticking to its principles.

Many General Assembly members in the Valley were unopposed. The two Republican senate candidates running to fill open seats were Mayor Ralph Smith and Jill Holtzman Vogel. Smith won with 51% of the vote and Vogel won with 48%. Both will quickly become conservative voices in the General Assembly. Smith replaces consistent Republican Brandon Bell and Vogel replaces the liberal Republican Russ Potts.

Senator Mark Obenshain, Senator Emmett Hanger, Delegate Matt Lohr, Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark, Delegate Lacey Putney, and Delegate William Fralin all faced opposition, but won with large majorities.

In Harrisonburg/Rockingham County, Republicans picked up the Clerk of the Court position with a 213 vote win by ex-Allen staffer Chaz Evans-Haywood (I believe we can put the hyphen back Chaz!).

Northern Virginia and Tidewater may not have provided the backing Republicans needed to continue their majorities in both houses of the GA, but without the national mood being as it is, Democrats would not have eked out narrow victories in those two areas. The general ideological mood of the country is always in flux. 2009 will be a big year for Republicans.

The DC College Republicans have been an incredibly active bunch. This report was submitted by DC Chairman (and Northeast Vice-Chairman) Mike Keough.

October 12-14: Massachusetts
Took 23 CRs on a 10 hour bus ride to campaign for Jim Ogonowski for the weekend Largest contingent of any state in MA-5 the weekend before the election

October 15-20: Louisiana
Took 13 CRs for five days to the suburbs of New Orleans Largest out-of-state contingent in LA for 72 Hour

November 3: Virginia
Took 15 CRs for a full day of campaigning in Stafford County/Fredericksburg

November 3-6: New Jersey (Planned and executed by our CUA chapter) Took 40 CRs to NJ-1 and NJ-12 Largest out-of-state contingent in NJ for 72 Hour

Overall, we put in about 2200 man hours in other states this fall.

Keough personally participated in every activity except the last trip to Jersey. Very good job, Mike and DC Fed.

The AP reports that –

With 16 percent of precincts reporting, Barbour, a Republican, had 54 percent of the vote. His Democratic challenger, John Arthur Eaves, Jr., had 46 percent.