The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
Democratic challenger Glenn Nye raised more money than his opponent, U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, in the latest campaign finance cycle but lags behind her in total available cash.
Nye received $215,564 between May 22 and June 30, according to campaign finance reports filed late Tuesday. Drake took in $150,248 during the same period.
Drake, however, edged Nye for the whole second quarter, raising $281,538 compared with Nye's $261,748 between April 1 and June 30.
Nye, a 33-year-old former foreign service officer, had $409,413 on hand as of June 30 compared with $682,076 for Drake.
Drake, a Republican, is seeking her third term representing the 2nd District, which includes Virginia Beach and parts of Norfolk, Hampton and the Eastern Shore.
Meanwhile, Drake called on Nye to return a $4,000 donation from New York Congressman Charles Rangel, who's facing scrutiny over a possible violation of fundraising ethics rules.
Drake's action comes two days after Nye asked her to cancel a Friday fundraiser with Karl Rove because the former White House adviser last week defied a congressional subpoena. Rangel is under fire for using congressional stationery to solicit corporate donations for a building to be named after himself.
A spokes person for Nye said the candidate won't be returning Rangel's donation and called Drake's request absurd.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122. aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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Have you ever actually seen Drake?
If you have then you know this is exactly what she looks like. On her website, of course her picture is touched up, but in real life, this is it! So what?
Photo Conspiracy?
So I guess this photo non conspiracy is more important than Drake's courting of a sleazy former member of the current administration who is under multiple investigations, or Nye's accepting contributions from someone using his office to score money for a project in his own honor. Unbelievable.
Perception is not an absurdity
It is delusional to believe that a photo conveys nothing more than someone's physical image. The photo conveys images that can be positive, negative or neutral. Drake's photo gives the impression that she is stressed, possibly angry. Her opponent appears calm in in a neutral setting.The VP knew what it was doing when these pics were chosen, and they got their message across. As far as Republicans or Dems, who cares? Both paries are morphing into one entity these days. Obama and McCain could run on the same ticket, since they are both in lockstep on so many issues (open borders/pro amnesty/free trade, etc). The real struggle is between leftists and conservatives, and neocons are pro-business globalists, not conservatives.
The truth is
The con-servatives are scared to death they will lose all their current seated Republicon officals, and they have every reason to be. People are sick and tired of all the lies, cover-ups, and deceptions come from all of them. Enough is simply enough!
I don't see what the big deal is...
The photos pretty much reflect how each of them looks. Now if the photos had been doctored, that would be a different story. To claim this is some bias on the part of the Virginian-Pilot is absurd and paranoid. Thelma Drake has received some good publicity from them in the past, as have other Republicans.
Is Anybody Surprised At This?
Its a given that the VP is a leftist liberal propaganda machine....and it has been since we moved here in the early 1970's. Drake is a conservative politician that cares about the military, their families and particularly the people in her district. I am not in lockstep with her on every single issue, but she is right on target most of the time. The VP has once again shown us a ham-handed attempt at subterfuge with the idiotic photo selection.
"where the Pilot favored a republican?"
"Has anyone ever seen where the Pilot favored a republican?"
Is curtis claiming that the VP has never endorsed a Republican?
My, what short memories you all have
The Virginian-Pilot has indeed endorsed Republicans in the past - including Thelma Drake. They endorsed her in 2006 against Phil Kellam. And if I'm not mistaken they endorsed her at least once when she was in the House of Delegates.
Photos and why this is news
The VP pulled two bad photos here: Nye looks like a happy idiot and Drake looks like a very angry old woman. You would think they could have found better pictures for both of them.
The reason why this is news is a challenger being able to raise more money than an incumbent: this is not at all typical and heaven knows Drake is a champ when it comes to raising political funds . . .
Rep. Drake
Well, you must feel good, Virginian Pilot; another shot at Rep. Drake. Anything you can do to undermine one of the best reps in the country. We know you like Democrats but do you have to be so obvious all the time?