Congressional rematch in Virginia
ANNANDALE, Virginia (CNN) - With just ten days before the highly anticipated mid term elections, the candidates for Virginia's 11th Congressional district were out on the campaign trail Saturday. Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly and Republican candidate Keith Fimian walked along the parade route of the Annandale Fall Festival trying to woo voters.
Rep. Connolly is hoping to win a second term in battleground Virginia where polls currently show him with a tenuous lead.
"We're going to be working our tails off right up until the first vote is cast and maybe even after that too. You take nothing for granted you take no one for granted," Connolly told CNN. "I believe that hard work and that passion for public service I bring to this job is going to pay off on November 2nd."
Fimian, who Connolly defeated by a sizeable margin in 2008, is hoping for a different outcome in this year's re-match. Republicans believe if they can win competitive House races like Virginia's 11th district, they can recapture the majority in the House of Representatives.
Fimian has consistently criticized his opponent for supporting controversial legislation like health care reform and cap and trade, and often describes Connolly as an inside-Washington, career politician.
"He does not know how to fix the problems our nation faces," Fimian told CNN. "He broke what's broke if you will. We are here because of him not in spite of him."
Virginia's 11th district is a close neighbor of Washington, D.C. and a stronghold for federal workers and contractors. Connolly hopes that will work in his favor.
"Our tradition here is pragmatic, centrist, not tea-party ideologues. That's a real problem for my opponent," Connolly said.
But Fimian insists if he wins, he'll be a bipartisan member of Congress.
"It's not a zero sum game and I'm willing to reach across the aisle to anyone who's willing to work with me in good faith," Fimian said.
Many Democrats feel confident that they will win the district. But in a year of heated ad wars and emerging parties, no seat is safe.
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God bless you VA, go and vote for any Democrats...o.k, GOP thugs looted the nation like a hell...o.k...read what time magazine say on America's dream....it is what Obama is doing....for the nation...Writer is a highly educated one...listen to me...god bless the nation, the usa....
Good ole virginy'. Between the governor declaring a month for the confederacy and their AG fighting against healthcare reform this is what else they need down in VA another lying rethug.
fimian, give it up man, you are not going to be bipartisan. It's been two years of filibustering and wanting the President and the Nation to fail. Nothing is going to change if the teabaggers/rethugs gain control of Congress.
We are going down as a nation and these republikans are taking us not with them because they have money and the giant coporations on their side, of course.
Come on Virginia ! You have done it before. Don't let our democracy be bought. We can beat them if we vote. Thanks.
Gerald Connolly is correct–this is a "pragmatic, centrist district-" concepts his actions in Congress for the last two years have prove he doesn't embrace at all. There is nothing pragmatic or centrist about voting repeatedly to bankrupt the nation, or bragging about wasting a trillions dollars on a stimulus bill that didn't stimulate, or accruing 3 trillions in deficits in 18 months. Mr. Connolly pretends that Mr. Fimian and those dreaded Tea Partiers are too extreme. Both advocate certainty in the market place from set tax rates, and a lower cap gains rate in order for businesses to feel confident enough to hire so the economy can recover. The fact that Mr. Connolly finds those principles and proposals extreme is exactly why he should not be returned to Congress. The fact is VA's 11th nor the country in general can not afford Gerald or his like.
Connolly should win this district as Fimians claim that he will be Bipartisan is clearly what no Republican has been for the past 2 years the leopard dont change is spots that easily. it's anonsense attempt to fool voters int a stupid change.
Regards,
Hodgson.