AZ-8; GRAF; ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE

ARIZONA:

Conservative Re-Evolution Endorses Randy Graf in the Republican Primary for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District



http://www.votegraf.com/

Graf, who was one of the founders of the border security organization, The Minutemen, got 43% of the vote in 2004 against 11-term Liberal Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe. It was only natural that Graf run again to protect America from Illegals & Terrorists coming over the border, as well as from tax & spend liberal Republicans like Kolbe. America’s #1 most Conservative Congressman Trent Franks (AZ) immediately endorsed Graf over Kolbe, along with 25 Republican Legislators. Kolbe got scared and decided 22 years in Congress was enough and announced he would not seek re-election. However, even more liberal Republicans have stepped into the Primary to try and keep Graf out of office. Huffman & Hellon constantly fight, in the media, over who is the bigger “Moderate” in this race. The other 2 Republicans in the 5 man field are Antenori & Jenkins, both of whom are consistent losers and offer no Conservative Ideals and have no plans to protect America’s Borders. Graf is the favorite and should be supported by all Republicans in this year’s Primary. He’s likely 2 face Weiss or Giffords in the General, who are the 2 Democrats leading their 6 person field in the Primary. Both Liberals are for Guest Worker Programs and believe Illegal’s have a right to be in America; receiving Welfare, Medicare, and voting rights along side real US Citizens. ConR-Ev urges all Republicans to get out and vote in this year’s Arizona Primary, so your State & this Nation have a strong protector on the ballot come November.

Graf’s Bio & a race summary article are below; from the Tucson Citizen.




Name: Randy Graf
Age: 46
Political affiliation: Republican
Education: Attended Ripon College in Wisconsin; graduated from San Diego Golf Academy Family: Married, one child
Work experience: Former golf club professional
Public service experience: Arizona House of Representatives 2001-2005; Little League coach; Green Valley Salvation Army Council
Endorsements: Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, Arizona Right to Life, more than two dozen state lawmakers, Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona's 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado.Web site: http://www.votegraf.com/


Wednesday, February 22, 2006
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/news/local/022206a1_cd8_v2/0

A dozen battle to succeed Kolbe
Hopefuls try to stand out from crowd
BLAKE MORLOCK
Tucson Citizen

Voters who don't know a Hellon from a Huffman should prepare for a political desert swarm of candidates scouring southeastern Arizona for the votes to get to Congress.
A dozen candidates - almost all lacking household names - are going to spend the next six months on airwaves, filling mailboxes and shaking hands from Swan Road to Sierra Vista in their efforts to succeed Jim Kolbe in representing Arizona's 8th Congressional District.
They have until the Sept. 12 primary to stand out and convince voters they have congressional timber.
Experts say the campaign is shaping up as a battle of women in the Democratic Party and an ideological decision for Republicans. But a host of military veterans could turn their combat experience into an election victory. Also, a crowded field could leave front-runners wondering how they lost.
The six Democrats, five Republicans and one independent are out there campaigning, raising money and lining up support needed to get even more money to get their names in voters' minds.
"Name recognition gets less important as the race goes on," said Earl de Berge, president of the Phoenix polling company Behavior Research Group. "The key candidates are all going to have enough money to get their own name out there. People will know who they are."
Gaining recognition will initially be the challenge for all the candidates, save, perhaps one.
Former news anchor Patty Weiss' face was beamed into homes for 32 years and it's already paying dividends.
The United Transportation Union of Arizona has endorsed her simply because of it.
"We think she has the best chance because people know who she is," said Scott Olson, the union's state lobbyist.
A poll she commissioned before entering the race showed 65 percent of registered Democrats have a favorable impression of Weiss - more than double that for former state Sen. Gabrielle Giffords, whom insiders call Weiss' chief foe.
But star power can be bought and Giffords has more money in the bank than any other candidate. Her campaign raised more than $250,000 in a month.
Giffords also spent five years in the state Legislature, giving her more political experience than any of the other Democratic candidates.
"It seems there's another candidate jumping into the race every day," Giffords said. "A lot of candidates. A lot of promises. But not a lot of proven records."
Weiss seems to be aiming her candidacy straight at the more liberal primary voter, telling an audience "I carry in my soul" the party's principles and "learned to never cross a picket line." Giffords, a former Republican, speaks of herself as the moderate to follow Kolbe.
Most of the candidates are discussing the same issues in vague terms. They want to improve schools, solve the health care problem and not represent special interests. Even on immigration, the differences among candidates, and even the two parties, is minimal. All but former state Rep. Randy Graf say either a guest worker program or a more open border policy is necessary.
Republicans hold a slight edge in voter registration but there are enough Democrats and independents to give Democrats a fighting chance of picking up the seat.
The Republican race is a different beast because the most obvious candidate isn't getting respect from party elders.
Graf challenged Kolbe in 2004 for the Republican nomination and won 43 percent of the vote. He is a pro-life, seal-the-border, no-guest-worker conservative. On his Web site, he dismisses GOP opponents as "extreme liberals in the Republican Party."
Kolbe himself has said repeatedly that Graf is too conservative to win the general election. Republicans may soon find out because no one doubts that Graf can win a Republican primary.
"It's not often that you have a sitting incumbent dissing his party's front-runner to win his seat," said Amy Walters, senior editor of the Washington-based Cook Political Report.
Primary voters tend to be more ideological and may lean toward Graf, said a University of Arizona political scientist.
"It will be interesting to see if (Republican voters) are strategic or not," said UA's Kristin Kanthak. "They might choose to go for one of the moderates because they can win but if they agree more with Graf, maybe they should vote for him."
Graf is working to change the perception that he is a one-issue candidate and is discussing a balanced budget, tax breaks, gun rights and abortion restrictions.
Republicans Mike Hellon, the former state party chairman, and state Rep. Steve Huffman fashion themselves as moderates who can win in November.
Huffman and Hellon are drawing a bead on one another.
"Mike's lack of a legislative record is going to be an issue," Huffman said. "My record speaks for itself."
Huffman is chairman of the state House Ways and Means Committee and has a record of tax cuts to run on.
Hellon sees the race simply: "I'm more conservative than Steve but less conservative than Randy. That's about where the district is."

OHIO; GOVERNOR'S RACE; BLACKWELL ENDORSED BY WATTS

OHIO:

Conservative Re-Evolution Scoffs at Liberals & Moderates for Their Attacks on Blackwell's Strength with the Religious Voters

As usual, the Liberal Media, Democrats, and Moderate Republicans are attempting to bash Conservatives for being involved with Religious Groups. We all know this criticism to be Un-American because every voter, whether a Reverend, a Priest, or a parishioner, should have the right to be active in improving their community and promoting the people who will achieve that. We also know it to be hypocritical because Democrats step into Black Churches every time they’re running for office, and they get Endorsed and ask for votes, standing at the alter, speaking in a evangelical-tone, usually during Sunday Service. In this years election, both Strickland, the Democrat running for Governor, and Petro, Blackwell’s Moderate Republican Opponent, have sought to make Ken’s popularity, with Moral Churchgoing Voters, look like a lowdown & unethical act by a desperate politician. Obviously it’s quite the opposite, and Blackwell doesn’t have to seek these folks out; they know a strong honest moral man when they see one. Jim Petro should remember that, on Tuesday, when he’s pandering to a room full of Democrats and hoping to turn supporters of Frank Jackson, Cleveland’s new Democrat Mayor, into Republican Primary Voters. I guess when Conservatives don’t support you, the next best thing are Democrats in Republican Clothing…..

MEDIA BLOGS:
Backing Blackwell
When Ken Blackwell, a Republican and the only black candidate for governor, meets with Cleveland’s influential black clergy next week, Alexandria Johnson Boone is certain to be lurking about. Boone, a local flack, contacted black members of the press this week to promote Blackwell's visit before the United Pastors in Mission, a group of leaders from 50 churches in the Democratic stronghold of Cleveland. Boone’s news release said “short private interviews and photo opportunities with Ken Blackwell are possible” and she asked reporters to RSVP. So, is Boone working for Blackwell? When asked directly, she dodged. In a follow-up interview, she tried to clarify. “I’m a concerned citizen that’s volunteering to help because I have great respect for Ken,” Boone said. Blackwell’s campaign did not return several calls asking for an explanation.
-- Mark Naymik mnaymik@plaind.com

No Surprise
Former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts praised Secretary of State Ken Blackwell Thursday night at the Grove City Church of the Nazarene. “I believe America is looking for an official -– a Ken Blackwell kind of official -- that is confortable in his own skin,” he said. Watts was the guest of the Ohio Restoration Project, an affiliate of the Fairfield Christian Church in Lancaster, which has honored Blackwell for backing 2004’s constitutional ban on gay-marriage. Mindful of the attention the Ohio Restoration Project has attracted from critics, who say it is mixing religion and politics too closely, Watts waited until he left the church to endorse his longtime friend. In statement released Friday by Blackwell’s campaign, Watts said what was clearly implied Thursday, “"Ken is a true conservative, who will protect the family and the taxpayer in everything he does as governor.” -- Mark Naymik mnaymik@plaind.com

GULF COAST; KATRINA; MEDIA FACTS & FICTION

GULF COAST:

Conservative Re-Evolution Finds that Popular Mechanics has Surpassed Newsweek & Time as the most Accurate American News Source (at least when it comes to Hurricaine Katrina)


In modern America, where reporters are now allowed to give their opinions in stories, you must always consider the source. In survey after survey, Journalists come up as being between 80 to 90% Liberal Leaning. So, where, you ask, is the average American supposed to go for the actual facts? Well the answer will be surprising, but POPULAR MECHANICS has become one excellent place for factual news and information. Below is a link to all their Katrina Articles and an introduction to their coverage by their Editors. Next time you’re at the Newsstand, remember your copy of PM!

http://www.popularmechanics.com/katrina


Now What?
The Lessons of Katrina

Published in the March, 2006 issue.
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISED.
Not the federal agencies tasked with preparing for catastrophes. Not the local officials responsible for aging levees and vulnerable populations. Least of all, the residents themselves, who had been warned for decades that they lived on vulnerable terrain. But when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005, it seemed as though the whole country was caught unawares. Accusations began to fly even before floodwaters receded. But facts take longer to surface. In the months since the storm, many of the first impressions conveyed by the media have turned out to be mistaken. And many of the most important lessons of Katrina have yet to be absorbed. But one thing is certain: More hurricanes will come. To cope with them we need to understand what really happened during modern America's worst natural disaster. POPULAR MECHANICS editors and reporters spent more than four months interviewing officials, scientists, first responders and victims. Here is our report.--THE EDITORS

OHIO STATEWIDE RACES; TRUE CONSERVATIVES ABOUND

OHIO:

Conservative Re-Evolution finds a True Conservative in Every Ohio Statewide Race; confidently Endorses 3 (at this time; more possible later).

GOVERNOR
Ken Blackwell (ConR-Ev ENDORSED!)
- A clear choice; a Conservative’s Conservative. Blackwell has an absolute confidence in the need for & the success of Conservative Government, as well as a strong belief in Personal Responsibility and the Judea-Christian Moral Code. Blackwell is one person a Conservative can vote for without any worries about what choices he’ll make in office. That cannot be said of Jim Petro, who on a daily basis debates himself on whether he’s “more conservative than” or the “moderate alternative to” Ken Blackwell.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Tim Grendell (ConR-Ev ENDORSED!)
- Tim has his moments where he can’t find the right phrase to express himself and sometimes lets his temper get the best of him, but he also has his moments of Brilliance. Tim has never had a problem being the Republican that goes against his Party in the legislature; as a State Senator, he has on several occasions, stood up to party Leadership and refused to vote for bills that go against Conservative Limited Government or the principles of the voters who elected him. Montgomery has certainly been willing, at times, to stand up for her principles, although their usually money related rather than based on values.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Greg Hartmann (ConR-Ev ENDORSED!)
- Greg may not be the most dynamic speaker; often getting outdone by opponent Jim Trakas’ fiery, enthusiastic oration, despite the fact that he usually has the better content. However, when you look at Hartmann’s Political & Personal Record, he has never swayed from his Conservative Beliefs and has always been willing to hold any politician accountable who attempts to expand or circumnavigate the Government.
TREAURER OF STATE
Sandy O’Brien (ConR-Ev Supports)
- I don’t think either woman makes an ideal candidate for the Republican Party come November. Also, on paper, it’s hard to argue against casting a vote for the Republican who made history as the Nation’s First Black Female Lt. Governor, but when you look at Bradley’s comments and core beliefs, it becomes hard to even call her a Republican. O’Brien on the other hand is a True Conservative; she’s pro-life to Bradley’s pro-choice, she’s for limited government to Jeanette’s social experiments, and she’s pure Independent to her opponent’s State Party Dependency.
AUDITOR OF STATE
Mary Taylor (ConR-Ev Supports)
- While Taylor is listed as having a primary challenge from the Ohio Republican Party’s Executive Director, Chris McNulty, it’s not likely she’ll actually have a race. However, a Conservative can feel comfortable voting for Taylor; during her relatively short time in the State Legislature she has shown herself as a protector of moral values, in particular, the sanctity of a child’s life and traditional marriage. Taylor needs to cut the trivial “fat” from her speeches, but overall, she’ll make an attractive candidate come November.

CO-6: TOM TANCREDO; ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE

COLORADO:

Conservative Re-Evolution Endorses Congressman Tom Tancredo for re-election in Colorado's 6th Congressional District

http://www.tancredo.org/



Tancredo: "immigration plan a disaster"

By Anne C. Mulkern Denver Post Staff WriterDenverPost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?article=3543536

Washington - The impending political skirmish over how to rewrite immigration laws moved forward today as a key senator released his comprehensive reform package, one the Senate could end up voting on next month.
The proposal from Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, includes a temporary guest worker program, enhanced border security, new requirements for employers to verify workers' legal status, and a provision for some 11 million illegal aliens now in the country to come forward and work legally. It calls for a study of whether a fence is necessary along the southern U.S. border.

Specter, in a letter to other senators, called the proposal "a discussion draft intended to move the debate forward." He said it serves "as a starting point for discussions on how to address the millions of undocumented individuals currently in the United States."

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, head of the group that opposes a guest worker program for people who entered the country illegally, condemned Specter's package, calling it an "unmitigated disaster."
"Words almost fail to describe the threat this bill poses to our national and economic security," said Tancredo. "By legalizing the millions upon millions of illegal aliens in the U.S., Specter makes a mockery of our laws and crushes our already strained legal immigration system. The American people will not stand by idly as this unmitigated disaster makes its way through the Senate."

Specter's proposal would create new conditional work status for illegal immigrants able to prove they were working in the United States prior to Jan. 4, 2004. They would pay $500 and undergo a medical exam.

In addition, the proposal creates a new visa for foreigners who want to come to the U.S. and work. Once an employer proves he has a job that no American wants, a foreign citizen can obtain a work permit to fill that job for three years. That's renewable one time, after which the person would be required to leave the country.

Tancredo said the bill "would grant a blanket amnesty to illegal aliens currently in the U.S., adds almost no personnel or equipment to secure the border, fails to significantly increase penalties for illegal employers, and overwhelms America's immigration system with countless new legal immigrants."

Tancredo criticized Specter's proposal to add what Tancredo called a "paltry" 250 new Customs and Border Protection officers, saying Congress already has authorized 10,000 and has only hired 1,500 of those.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, which Specter heads, is scheduled to begin debate on Specter's proposal Thursday.

The House in December passed a bill - supported by Tancredo and his Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus - that includes multiple provisions to secure the border, including 700 miles of fences in some areas. It also would force employers to verify workers' legal status. It did not have any guest worker provision.

Tancredo earlier this month said he thought there was a "50-50" chance of stopping the Senate bill. But White House liaison Grover Norquist said there are enough votes in the Senate to pass a guest worker bill.

Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo. supports the bill authored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. that provides a guest worker program. Part of that bill is included in Specter's package. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., cosponsored an alternative proposal, from Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and is considered somewhat tougher on border security than that Kennedy-McCain package.

"There are no easy solutions to our broken immigration system, but Congress has an urgent responsibility to implement policies to control the border and address the illegal population already in the United States," Cornyn said Friday in a statement. "I am encouraged by the consensus behind the call for reform. No one person has a monopoly on good ideas and we have to find a way to pass these reforms of our broken system."
Specter's bill also increases to 290,000 from 140,000 the number of employment-based green cards, and exempts immediate relatives of U.S. citizens from the 480,000 annual cap on family-based immigration.

Many of those involved in the immigration debate have said they expect the Senate the pass a guest worker provision. Then when the House bill and Senate bill are merged in a conference committee - which is done behind closed doors - the guest worker provision will be shoehorned in. The House will then face voting on a bill that includes both tougher border security measures and guest worker.

CA-48: JIM GILCHRIST(IND.); ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE

CALIFORNIA:

Conservative Re-Evolution Endorses Independent Candidate Jim Gilchrist in the Race for California's 48th Congressional District


http://www.jimgilchrist.com/

Press Release

GOP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, MEHLMAN, IS THE ONE ON THE “WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY” SAYS MINUTEMAN JIM GILCHRIST

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman

December 2, 2005Lake Forest, CA — Minuteman Project founder and 48th Congressional District candidate Jim Gilchrist said today that Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman’s recent speech warning against the rise of “anti-immigrant sentiment” in the United States was duplicitous and purposely designed to impugn the motives of millions of patriotic Americans who are working to stop illegal immigration and secure America’s borders.

“Chairman Mehlman’s recent remarks to the Republican Governor’s Association claimed that those who are on the front lines opposing illegal immigration and demanding American border security, such as Congressman Tom Tancredo and citizen Minutemen, are on the ‘wrong side of history’ because, supposedly, they are motivated by some sort of racist, xenophobic, anti-immigrant mentality,” Gilchrist said.

“Chairman Mehlman’s remarks are false, patently offensive, and represent demagoguery in its worst form,” stated Gilchrist. “He knows we are pro-immigrant – but under the rule of law. Mehlman and the political establishment know very well that this is not an anti-immigrant movement. In fact, legal immigrants and naturalized citizens are a major part of the vanguard of this battle. I am not going to stand by and allow Chairman Mehlman and those of his ilk to get away with suggesting that the citizen’s movement to halt illegal immigration and secure our borders is motivated by bigotry, racism, or any desire to exclude any racial or ethnic group from the American dream.”

“Chairman Mehlman, the American people are no longer fooled by demagogues like you who are trying to divide us with demonstrably false charges of racialism -- and we will not be discouraged nor dissuaded from the critical task of fighting illegal immigration and securing our nation’s territory and sovereignty. We are going to do this job until the federal government finally gets it right -- and it will be you, Chairman Mehlman, who ends up ‘on the wrong side of history,’” Gilchrist declared.“I urge the voters of California’s 48th District to get out to the polls and vote for me in the special election this Tuesday, December 6, to send a strong and convincing message to Chairman Mehlman, the Bush Administration, and their errand boy, John Campbell, that the American people are serious about stopping illegal immigration and securing our borders -- and they will not be fooled by phony messages or phony candidates!” concluded Gilchrist.

OH-2: McEWEN; ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE

OHIO:

Conservative Re-Evolution endorses Bob McEwen for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District

http://www.bobmcewenforcongress.com/

ARTICLE:

McEwen wins GOP straw poll
Blackwell fares well, Schmidt not so well
BY HOWARD WILKINSON ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Over pancakes and bacon Saturday morning, more than 200 Republicans from Hamilton County's northeast communities heard from the two candidates battling for the 2nd Congressional District GOP nomination, and a slight majority ended up choosing Bob McEwen over the incumbent, Jean Schmidt.

And, in the same straw poll, the northeast Hamilton County Republicans chose the hometown candidate for governor, J. Kenneth Blackwell, over Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro by a ratio of 2-to-1.

Nearly 220 Republicans battled snow-covered roads to get to the Sharonville Convention Center for the Northeast Republican Club's pancake breakfast and straw poll held each year around the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president.

Only members of the club, though, cast ballots, and 53 percent of them went for former congressman McEwen over Schmidt, who won the seat in a special congressional election last summer.

It was the first such straw poll among Republicans, who will go to the polls on May 2 to choose between Schmidt and McEwen, but it was confined to Republicans from a corner of Hamilton County in a seven-county district that stretches more than 100 miles from southern Warren County to Portsmouth.

Schmidt's campaign manager, Allen Freeman, downplayed the results.

"Some of the main organizers of this were McEwen people, so I'm not surprised that they were able to get
their people to come out," Freeman said.

But McEwen, standing at the doorway greeting the Republicans as they filed out, said his campaign did nothing to try to pack the room with his supporters.

"We just came to make our case; and I'm grateful for the support," McEwen said.

Jenny Martini, a McEwen supporter from Sycamore Township, said she supported the former congressman because of his "experience, six terms in Congress. He has the knowledge and experience in foreign affairs
that we need in Washington."

Mary Anne Christie of Madeira, sporting a Schmidt sticker on her jacket, said McEwen "really hasn't been a part of this district," saying that Schmidt, who lives near Loveland in Clermont County, "has always been a part of this community."

"He's lived in an expensive house in Virginia working as a lobbyist and now he gets a condo in Anderson Township and expects to get elected to Congress," said Christie.

Schmidt and McEwen arrived early to stump for votes as the Republicans lined up for fresh fruit, bagels, pancakes and bacon.

So, too, did Blackwell, who showed up with his running mate, State Rep. Tom Raga, R-Mason. Petro drove down from Columbus with his wife, showing up in time to make his speech, listen to the other candidates and wait for the results of a straw poll he knew he had little chance of winning.

Schmidt donned an apron and volunteered to go from table to table serving coffee, with her twin sister, Jennifer Black, tailing behind her carrying the cream and sugar.

A gun and knife show was going on in the upper-level rooms of the convention center; and Schmidt walked through that as well, shaking hands with the exhibitors and customers, and admiring the guns.

She didn't buy anything, but Blackwell did, paying $25 for a folding knife he said he'd use for cutting fishing line. Blackwell walked around the gun and knife show in his bomber-style National Rifle Association jacket, which he was wearing because he was driving to Celina later in the day to be the speaker at an NRA banquet.
The Northeast Hamilton County Republican Club is made up of GOP voters from Amberley Village, Blue Ash, Deer Park, Evendale, Indian Hill, Loveland, Madeira, Mariemont, Montgomery, Reading, Sharonville, Silverton, Sycamore Township and Terrace Park.

E-mail hwilkinson@enquirer.com

NC-13: ROBINSON; ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE

NORTH CAROLINA:

Conservative Re-Evolution Endorses Vernon Robinson for North Carolina's 13th Congressional District.

http://vernonrobinson.com/

ARTICE:
Robinson changes election district at last minute
He will face two opponents in primary for GOP nomination
By Bertrand M. Gutierrez, James Romoser and Danielle Deaver
JOURNAL REPORTERS
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137834426099

Vernon Robinson's quest to become a congressman took an unusual turn yesterday as the filing
deadline for local, state and congressional elections expired.

Robinson dropped his plan to challenge seven-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, a Democrat and the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, in the 12th Congressional District and instead switched his filing to run in the 13th District, which is represented by Brad Miller, a Democrat.

"One GOP leader said that as much as she would like to see me run in the 12th, she wanted me in Congress," said Robinson, a Republican. When asked if the switch could be seen as a flip-flop, he said, "It's not final until (yesterday) at 12," referring to the filing deadline for the May 2 primary election.

Robinson said that his decision to run for the 13th District was also driven by the absence of Virginia Johnson, who was the 2004 Republican nominee but did not file for office this time.

Robinson said he had 278 donors in the 13th District during the 2004 and 2006 election cycles.

Another factor that may have attracted Robinson to the 13th District is that although registered Democratic voters hold a majority over Republicans, Johnson got 112,788 votes to Miller's 160,896 in the 2004 general election.

Candidates for Congress do not have to live in the district in which they run, according to federal election law. They just have to live in the state.

Before Robinson can challenge Miller for the 13th District - which includes Person and Caswell counties and sections of Raleigh and Greensboro, as well as parts of Rockingham, Granville, Guilford, Alamance and Wake counties - he will have to win the GOP nomination in the primary election against Charlie Sutherland of Mayodan and John Hendrix of Cary.

Some of the candidates and the chairwoman of the 13th District Republican Party had not received word that Robinson was running until contacted by a reporter.

"They're all three good candidates, but Vernon Robinson has a track record of raising money," said Chris Farr, the chairwoman of the 13th District Republican Party. "He will spice it up for sure. I'll be glad to help any one of the candidates in the primary."

Hendrix, who ran for U.S. Senate against Richard Burr in a Republican primary two years ago, said he was looking forward to the primary.

"If there are three of us, then we'll have plenty of chances to bounce our ideas and barbs off each other, but I hope it remains on a civil level," he said. "We certainly don't want to give the impression that the party is divided."

Robinson raised nearly $3 million in his 2004 campaign for the 5th Congressional District. He got the most votes in the primary but lost in a runoff against Virginia Foxx in a bitter campaign. Foxx easily won the seat in the subsequent general election.

Miller could not be reached for comment, but his staff sent a statement from him.

"I fully expect Vernon Robinson to spend another $3 million on hate speech this year," the statement said. "I believe that the people of this district are better than that."

• Bertrand M. Gutierrez can be reached at 727-7283 or at bgutierrez@wsjournal.com
• James Romoser can be reached at 727-7284 or at jromoser@wsjournal.com
• Danielle Deaver can be reached at 727-7279 or at ddeaver@wsjournal.com
• Journal reporter Titan Barksdale contributed to this report.

OH-13: McGREW; ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE

OHIO:

Conservative Re-Evolution endorses David McGrew for Ohio's 13th Congressional District

http://www.DavidMcGrewForCongress.com/

ARTICLE:


GOP challengers not all behind chief commander
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Steve LuttnerPlain Dealer Reporter
http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/ispol/114147545913090.xml?ispol&coll=2

The meandering 13th Congressional District is considered Democratic turf, but five Republicans are vying for the chance to convert the seat to the GOP.

The seat is held by Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who is running for the U.S. Senate. Eight Democrats are running for the opportunity to replace Brown.

The district, which includes parts of Summit, Lorain, Medina and Cuyahoga counties, has seen a large loss of manufacturing jobs. The unemployment rate in the district's three largest cities - Akron, Lorain and Elyria - is higher than the state average.

While much of the focus of the race will be on the Democrats, the Republican candidates this week answered two questions put to them by The Plain Dealer.

Has President Bush been good for the 13th Congressional District?

Paul Burtzlaff, 38, Lutheran pastor and a former U.S. Navy chaplain: "I don't know that he has necessarily been good for the district."

Charles DeLorean, 79, a World War II veteran and retired auto dealer: "He has been terrible. He feels that we have to be the repository for taking care of every other person in the world outside of our country."

Craig Foltin, 38, the GOP mayor of heavily Democratic Lorain: "I think it's a mixed bag. It's not fair to judge President Bush's entire body of work on how it has impacted the 13th district."

David McGrew, 47, runs marketing firm, supports Ken Blackwell for governor: "George Bush has been good for the economy of the country. The politicians that we have [locally] are incapable. I see guys like Craig Foltin, who don't know how to compete for jobs."

Joe Ortega III, 57, runs distribution company, ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2004: "Yes, he has. His tax cuts have helped."

Was the United States correct to send troops to Iraq?

Burtzlaff: "I don't know. I fully support our men and women in the armed forces. You need to get them out as soon as possible."

DeLorean: "We are presenting ourselves as the policeman of the world. We do not belong there, not for one damn second."

Foltin: "Yes. Who knows what other 9/11 type incidents could have happened on our turf if we weren't fighting terrorism on their turf in the Mideast."

McGrew: "In the global war on terrorism, I believe we made the right decision."

Ortega: "Yes. We need to continue to fight terrorism all over the world. If we don't fight it there, we will fight it here."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
sluttner@plaind.com, 1-800-628-6689
© 2006 The Plain Dealer
© 2006 cleveland.com All Rights Reserved.

Exibit A

OHIO:

Tip of the iceberg...


GOP e-mails detail Petro bias
Former NE Ohio official accuses top brass
Friday, February 24, 2006
Ted Wendling and Sandy TheisPlain Dealer Bureau
Columbus

-- The Ohio Republican Party's regional director in Northeast Ohio has resigned, contending that party officials have secretly promoted the gubernatorial candidacy of Attorney General Jim Petro while publicly expressing neutrality.

Karl Raszewski, who headed the 19-county region until Feb. 11, quit after accusing party Executive Director Chris McNulty of squelching the results of a Jan. 28 Republican State Central Committee straw poll that showed overwhelming support for Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

"If Chris had . . . let everyone see the results, Petro would have likely left the race within 48 hours," Raszewski predicted in one of two e-mails he wrote to party officials. Copies of the e-mails were sent anonymously to The Plain Dealer.

Committee members were asked to submit secret ballots choosing between a Blackwell/Petro ticket or a Petro/Blackwell ticket. Two sources said the results, which GOP Chairman Bob Bennett discussed with party leaders but did not release publicly, showed 40 votes for a Blackwell/Petro ticket and 14 votes for a Petro/Blackwell ticket.

Eleven other voters chose Blackwell over Petro and five picked Petro over Blackwell, the sources said.

Raszewski's e-mails, which he declined to discuss, also claim that McNulty and Political Director Jason Mauk have "cut [Bennett] out of decision-making" and accuse the pair of spreading rumors that the party fired him.
Bennett, McNulty and Mauk all dispute Raszewski's charges. Bennett said he decided not to reveal the straw-poll results because neither candidate had been notified that a poll would be taken and he didn't want the results to be seen as an endorsement.

He also said he has seen no evidence that McNulty supports Petro even though McNulty's new wife, Jenna Soccorsi, is a fund-raiser for Petro.

"If I took a poll in my office, I would say the office is probably half and half" between Petro and Blackwell, Bennett said. "I've talked to Chris about the perception. He has to be extremely careful. I have not found any time that he has violated that neutrality."

McNulty concurred.

"I follow the direct orders of the chairman that we're neutral, and we don't depart from that," he said. Asked about Soccorsi's work for Petro, he said, "We rarely talk about work."

Petro's spokesman, Bob Paduchik, dismissed Raszewski's claims, saying, "I don't think the party has shown anybody any favoritism - certainly not Jim Petro."

Blackwell said the claims were credible but that he has no beef with the party.

"I've known for years that Bob Bennett has emotional, historical and political ties to Jim Petro," Blackwell said. "I also know that I'm his political prodigal son and Bob Taft and Jim Petro are his favorite sons. It didn't surprise me or alarm me that he threw his protective cover over Jim."

Raszewski's e-mails dispute assertions that the GOP has been neutral. He now works as a consultant for David McGrew, an Akron marketing company owner who is running for Congress.

"I also have a problem with the fact that the ORP is assisting a primary in the governor's race when we supposedly didn't want one," Raszewski wrote. He called Blackwell "clearly the better candidate for Ohio and for the Republican Party nationally," and said he was "disappointed to find out that people there did not like him and frequently worked against what's best for Ohio."

Raszewski's e-mails also accuse McNulty and Mauk of manipulating Bennett to "further their future political careers" as Bennett prepares to retire.

Bennett denied that.

"There's nothing wrong with Karl," he said. "He did a great job for the Bush/Cheney folks in western Pennsylvania, but he was kind of like a round peg in a square hole working for us."

He lamented that Raszewski's departure "was probably not handled the way it should have been handled," and said it was untrue that he was being manipulated.

"I talk to Jason and Chris every single day," Bennett said. "Karl's just misreading it."

© 2006 The Plain Dealer
© 2006 cleveland.com All Rights Reserved.

Hello,
This is the beginning of the movement that will be the end of those who have damaged the reputation of the Republican Party, and taken us away from everything that it was ever meant to be. I'm not just talking about "R.I.N.O.s" who don't hold the same idealogical views as Conservatives. I'm refering to the many elected Republicans in Federal, State, and Local Goverments who have taken the Democrat, and sometimes even socialist, approach to legislating. Many, if not most, of these Republicans go in with good intentions, but to stay in power, to continue to be elected, they must offer the voters something that "sounds" enticing. This usually means something for nothing. Modern Government, in the time of the liberal-slanted instant press, is by nature liberal. Washington DC and most of our Stae Capitols are located within liberal cities. Over months and years, this begins to eat away at Republicans and they start to think that the mindset of those in the city is the same as the "rest" of America. Only a true conservative, one who believes what they say in their heart and mind, who never wavers in their ideals no matter what the political climate, can truely lead us under the banner of REPUBLICAN.