■ 17 November 2011 | 10:30 PM
Northam rejects Republican overtures to switch parties
Even as Senate Democrats plot ways to make Republicans share power with them, they might have a more immediate concern: keeping their diminished caucus intact.
Republicans have apparently spoken with Sen. Ralph Northam about permanently crossing the partisan divide, but the Norfolk Democrat said he has no plans to defect.
"I guess it's nice to be wanted," he said Thursday, "but I'm a Democrat and that's where I'm staying."
Northam, who's previously been courted by the GOP, said he was most recently approached about switching sides earlier this week.
Asked about efforts to bring Democrats into the fold, a Republican official said the party plans to run the Senate next year with the 20 seats it won in this month's election and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's tiebreaking vote.
Additional GOP gains, the official predicted, might come if Democratic senators retire or are lured away with a government job offer.
Senate Democrats plan to gather Friday and Saturday to strategize for the upcoming General Assembly session and select caucus leaders.
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Northam has some sense and
Northam has some sense and reason and isn't a left wing radical like so many in his partyl. It makes sense that the Republicans would think he might have more in common with them. However, kudos to Northam for attempting to bring change and balance to the Democratic party. They certainly need many more like him. If voters aren't so blinded by partisanship, staying Democrat shouldn't hurt him a bit. It hasn't hurt Mark Warner or Jim Webb who are both moderate to quasi-conservative Dems as well. Personally, I wish all sensible politicians would go independent and leave the 2 parties to the fanatics on the left and the right since thats who they cater to anyway.
On the issues
On the issues that are most important to Democrats, Senator Northam is right there. I liked the independent stance he took on the HPV Vaccine issue. Being a physician, I respected his thoughts about the need to curtail the deadly disease of cancer any way possible. He's taken heat fir it, but nonetheless, he took the stance that he believed was right and the result was that he picked up many supporters due to it.
I would hope he'd tell the GOP 'Thanks but no thanks.' We (the Dems) worked hard for him and we wouldn't want to lose him.
Sen Northam
Sen. Northam is not a fake Democrat. He is NOT for sale. He is for real.
Democrats should stick together, stay in the boat, the tide will change.
Thank goodness
Now I truly know the VA GOP is out of touch, not only with the base, but with reality.