Perriello says Goode could have “significant appeal” in Southwest and Southside Va.
Tom Perriello
Virgil Goode
We won’t know until next week whether former U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount will be on the Virginia ballot as the Constitution Party’s candidate for president.
But there’s plenty of speculation about the impact a Goode candidacy could have on the race in Virginia, where President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney are running neck and neck. Could Goode pull enough conservative votes away from Romney to tip a close race – and a key state — to Obama?
There’s at least one Democrat who isn’t underestimating Goode – former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello of Albemarle County, who defeated Goode in 2008. Perriello spoke at Obama’s campaign rally in Charlottesville on Wednesday and was asked about Goode’s candidacy in a brief interview.
“I think there’s no question that if Virgil wants to go out and really make the case to the voters, he is going to have significant appeal in Southwest and Southside Virginia,” Perriello said. “I’ve talked to a lot of conservatives in those areas who really don’t like Romney – for good and bad reasons. “
Perriello said Romney’s record on outsourcing of jobs – a record that Romney’s campaign says Democrats have distorted – is “devastating for him in a lot of these old manufacturing communities.”
“Virgil knows how to talk that talk and, in some ways, as a conservative populist , can address the economic woes of a lot of voters who are probably not going to ever vote for the president,” said Perriello, who was defeated in 2010 by Republican Robert Hurt. “Does he end up making a dent or not? If he wants to go out there and do the grassroots politics, no one does it better.”
The state board of elections is scheduled to certify third-party candidates for the presidential election ballot on Tuesday.
– Michael Sluss
August 30, 2012 - 4:36 PM
Another meaningless statement from NY boy. Goode will have zero affect on Va.
If there is any true conservative alternative on the ballot in November then no one comes closer than Virgil Goode. It’s truly a shame no one votes on principle anymore or follows our own constitution.
#1 Really, Jack, is that why the Repubs are working their tails off to keep him off the ballot? If Goode is no threat, why don’t the Repubs expend their energies and money elsewhere?
Run Goode, run!
3 & 4…since you want him on the ballot so bad, will you be voting for him? Didn’t think so…
You only want him on the ballot for the same exact reason the Republicans DON’T want him there. So save us the indignation. If he were a threat to your precious Obama, Dems would be working twice as hard to keep him off the ballot. Obama has a long history of that kind of behavior throughout his career.
I used to think that Goode was a smart man. But I have my doubts now. I will never vote for him on any ballot, this one, or any in the future.
“Obama has a long history of that kind of behavior throughout his career.”
Interesting! By all means, link to an example. I’d love to read it.
If the “TEA Party” had any integrity, he would get every vote they have to cast. He won’t, so please do not act as if it is the Dems that don’t have the right attitude here. He is THE “TEA PARTY” candidate and he will fail as spectacularly as they have because it is all just lip service. They will almost all vote for Romney/Ryan (and regret it), few will have the courage of their convictions and vote Goode or Gary Johnson. They are the original hypocrites!
The Constitution Party needs more local officials before they attempt the Presidency. Goode would make a good state senator or delegate, or even senator. We need more Constitution Party candidates in the state. I will be voting for Romney, but in hopes of voting for Goode in the future.
#5 I’m sorry to hear that you apparently favor keeping a legitimate candidate off the ballot, OR. You probably also favor making it harder for legitimate voters to vote. Typical right winger.
You obviously don’t know much of the history surrounding your beloved Obama and his political career. Not that it’s a complete surprise…the media hasn’t exactly vetted him.
Along with this willing media, Obama and Axelrod were able to systematically eliminate opponents from a variety of primary and general election ballots during his Illinois State Senate and U.S. Senate campaigns. They did so largely by unsealing divorce and other private records. Chicagoland politics.
Just realized that the Repubs were also working hard to keep the Libertarian Party off the ballot in Virginia. What is it with Repubs trying to keep legitimate candidates from running? I mean, it really sucked in 2000 when Ralph Nader’s candidacy probably cost Gore the presidency and foisted George Bush on an unsuspecting nation, but them’s the breaks.