Is Cordel Faulk REALLY going to run for Congress?
Earlier today my younger brother, Cordel, shot me an instant message that included a web link. After following and reading the link I immediately messaged him back and told him I didn't open my mouth. We'd had a conversation about the content of the article and I let him know that even though politically we are on total opposite ends of the spectrum I'm behind him 100% (hell if Maria and Arnold can maintain their marriage I think my brother and I will be fine). If he runs, and I hope he does, any negative feedback or characterization will be extremely hard to deal with, but, I know he can handle it. Now our Mom, thats a different story.
I have pasted the contents of the link Cordel sent me below. The actual article can be found the Roanoke Valley Republicans blog at: http://roanokevalleyrepublicans.blogspot.com/2009/05/rumors-from-5th-new-challenger-for.html.
**It is pretty well accepted by both Republicans and Democrats that Tom Perriello will be at the top of the Republican "hit list" and has very little chance of keeping his seat in 2010. Without Barack Obama's and Mark Warner's coattails to ride, he should be pretty easy pickings for the Rs. Remember, he won the seat by only 727 votes at the same time Obama carried the 5th and Warner won it in a landslide.
The conventional wisdom has been that Virgil Goode will run again and take back his seat. While that may be the case, I'm hearing some very interesting rumors about another potential candidate.
His name is Cordel Faulk. He's a lawyer, Virginia political commentator and Richmond Times Dispatch columnist. He's a 33-year old, conservative African American with degrees from Virginia Tech and UVA Law. If elected, Faulk would be the first black Republican to represent Virginia in Congress since Reconstruction (how embarrassing is that fact?).
Here's my take on Faulk's candidacy. First, the 5th is shifting away from Franklin County towards Charlottesville and this is Faulk's "neck of the woods." Second, Faulk is very accomplished and, at only 33, brings an energy that would be exciting. Third, let's face it, the African American turnout, especially in Southside, was a HUGE factor in 2008. I hate identity politics but it's just a fact that an African American R would, at the very least, add a new element to the equation.
My understanding is that Faulk is still in the exploratory stage but I expect we'll be hearing some interesting tidbits as we head towards 2010.**
I have pasted the contents of the link Cordel sent me below. The actual article can be found the Roanoke Valley Republicans blog at: http://roanokevalleyrepublicans.blogspot.com/2009/05/rumors-from-5th-new-challenger-for.html.
**It is pretty well accepted by both Republicans and Democrats that Tom Perriello will be at the top of the Republican "hit list" and has very little chance of keeping his seat in 2010. Without Barack Obama's and Mark Warner's coattails to ride, he should be pretty easy pickings for the Rs. Remember, he won the seat by only 727 votes at the same time Obama carried the 5th and Warner won it in a landslide.
The conventional wisdom has been that Virgil Goode will run again and take back his seat. While that may be the case, I'm hearing some very interesting rumors about another potential candidate.
His name is Cordel Faulk. He's a lawyer, Virginia political commentator and Richmond Times Dispatch columnist. He's a 33-year old, conservative African American with degrees from Virginia Tech and UVA Law. If elected, Faulk would be the first black Republican to represent Virginia in Congress since Reconstruction (how embarrassing is that fact?).
Here's my take on Faulk's candidacy. First, the 5th is shifting away from Franklin County towards Charlottesville and this is Faulk's "neck of the woods." Second, Faulk is very accomplished and, at only 33, brings an energy that would be exciting. Third, let's face it, the African American turnout, especially in Southside, was a HUGE factor in 2008. I hate identity politics but it's just a fact that an African American R would, at the very least, add a new element to the equation.
My understanding is that Faulk is still in the exploratory stage but I expect we'll be hearing some interesting tidbits as we head towards 2010.**
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