June 12, 2012 Republican Senate Primaries

Its that time again--time to get down to your local polling station and cast a vote.  This time, it is for the 2012 Republican Senate Primaries.  The nominee will contest former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. Who is in the line-up for the Republican Primaries?

• Jaime Radtke
• George Allen
• Bob Marshall
• E.W. Jackson

Here are some first thoughts about the candidates, in case I don't get around to another blog post before the primary on this coming Tuesday.

Jaime Radtke is a conservative activist who has worked to help several conservatives in their bids for elected positions. Jaime's own site contrasts her conservative views with the big-government philosophy of George Allen. After I read Jaime's bio, I have a good first impression of her.

George Allen was elected to the Senate back in 2000, but was ousted from his seat by Senator Webb in 2006 by less than 10,000 votes. Many people remember him by the controversy where he called a Webb staffer by a racial slur during the unsuccessful 2006 campaign for re-election.

Bob Marshall currently serves as a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly, having first won his seat in 1991. Bob has played an important role in Virginia state-level politics of the last few years, recently playing the role of an important sponsor on the bill which give Virginia legal precedence in suing  the Federal government over the health care mandate. (By the way, thanks to the Bob Marshall supporter with the large sign in the front yard with the "June 12th" date. It was a nice reminded of the upcoming primary!)

E.W. Jackson is a former lawyer, turned minister of two churches, one in Boston, MA, the other in Chesapeake, VA. One of the first things I noticed on his website was a video in front of Virginia highway rest stop talking about how Tim Kaine (the current Democratic nominee for the Senate) closed rest stops. Granted, he was speaking about Mr. Kaine's dishonesty in closing the stops and raising taxes while there was room left in the budget--I will always remember Mr. Jackson as the minister talking about closed rest stops.  I guess first impressions are important.