Mudslinging at a minimum in 3rd District race

Even with four candidates on the ballot, this year's 3rd Congressional District race may be one of the lowest-profile contests in Virginia.

While several other congressional races in the state have featured mud slinging, racy photos, controversial e-mails and accusations of lies and half-truths, the campaign in the 3rd has been tame by comparison.

The incumbent is U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a nine-term Newport News Democrat who represents communities that stretch from Norfolk to Richmond.

It is the only congressional district in the state with a majority African American population - more than 55 percent, according to the 2010 edition of the Almanac of American Politics. And, the almanac notes, its voters have skewed Democratic in recent national elections: In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama took 76 percent of the vote; four years earlier, two-thirds of district voters cast ballots for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's failed White House bid.

Challenging Scott for the seat he's held since 1993 are Republican Chuck Smith of Virginia Beach, independent John Kelly of New Kent County and Libertarian James Quigley of Hampton.

Kelly and Quigley are political newcomers who say they were moved to join the race by recent events.

Smith is a longtime GOP activist involved in local and state politics who initially sought the Republican nomination in South Hampton Roads' 2nd District, where he lives, before party officials recruited him to run in the 3rd.

Scott has criticized Smith for living outside the district. Smith has said Scott's words don't match his legislative deeds. Otherwise, the insults flung during the campaign have generally been mild.

Some of that may be because the incumbent hasn't interacted with his opponents much - Scott participated in a few debates but has largely busied himself with an itinerary that's taken him around the district for campaign stops and public appearances.

Or it could be, as Smith says, that voters have grown tired of "constant bickering" in Washington and simply want jobs and a feeling of financial security.

One way to restore economic vitality is to engage in frank discussions about spending and taxes, Scott said.

"There is no way to reduce the deficit in a politically popular way," he said in an interview. "You have to cast politically unpopular votes. You have to raise taxes - that's politically unpopular. You have to cut spending - that's politically unpopular."

Republicans, in turn, accuse Scott of 18 years of "neglect" in his district and criticize his support of costly economic recovery spending and health care.

Scott rejects that, pointing to his record and to recognition he's received from The Hill newspaper as one of the hardest-working members of Congress.

Smith, an attorney, is counting on the public being less concerned about who's on the left or the right and more preoccupied with economic concerns.

"This is our Congress," he told a crowd at a recent public forum. "They don't own it. We own it."

Smith said federal government spending has grown excessively and should be cut. If elected, he said, he will work to eliminate burdensome regulations he considers a hindrance to job growth.

Scott wonders where GOP officials now complaining about spending and debt were in 1993 when, he says, Democrats had a plan to eliminate the deficit; or where they were during the tenure of former President George W. Bush when spending increased.

Compared with some other contests, the 3rd District race hasn't seen a frenzy of campaign spending.

Scott has the most money but so far has limited his advertising to print and radio spots. Smith also bought print and radio ads on a smaller budget; the other two candidates haven't done so.

Kelly and Quigley have each operated on shoestring budgets, but worked cooperatively to raise their profiles: Quigley said they alerted each other about political events and forums so they could each attend as many as possible.

Smith was the focus of unwanted attention last week when his campaign manager was quoted in the political publication Roll Call saying that the GOP hasn't provided him sufficient help.

State and local Republican officials denied that charge, noting that party heavyweights such as Gov. Bob McDonnell and former Gov. George Allen campaigned for Smith.

Smith brushed aside questions about the article, saying his focus remains on the kitchen table issues consuming many Americans' thoughts.

Kelly, a manufacturing engineer, has pledged to take the pulse of the district and let the prevailing sentiment guide his votes.

"Every time you call, I will answer the phone. I will listen to you," he told voters at a recent candidate debate in Hampton. "I will be out in the community with you, listening to you. I will hear you and speak with my voice for you."

Quigley, an efficiency expert for a government contractor, said recent events, namely government bailouts to corporate interests, drew his ire and inspired his candidacy.

Quigley favors an audit of the Federal Reserve System and breaking up "too-big-to-fail banks."

And he wants to change how Virginia restores rights, such as voting privileges, to felons who have completed their sentences. He argues that the current application-based system unconstitutionally denies representation to some taxpaying citizens.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com