Republican congressional candidate Scott Rigell is getting cozy this weekend with someone who ought to be a big ally this fall - U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, who is running the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Sessions, a Texas Republican,is running one of the partisan arms of House GOP caucus that could swoop into Virginia to help Rigell's run against Democratic U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye and independent candidate Kenny Golden.
Sessions is an interesting character - here's some of his background - and he is also a Republican who has fully embraced the tea party movement. That could be a boon for Rigell - who has had trouble with the leaders of the Hampton Roads Tea Party since the GOP primary. The local tea party leaders backed Ben Loyola during the primary pointing to Rigell's $1,000 donation to Barack Obama's campaign and also his car dealerships' lucrative involvement in the cash for clunkers program.
But Sessions in one of the Republican leaders in Congress who has joined into the Tea Party Caucus. Not everyone is on baord with the group - including House Minority Leader John Boehner, and Minority Whip U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Richmond.
But Sessions is also the focal point of a new effort by the Democratic National Committee - and chairman Timothy M. Kaine - to merge the GOP and Tea Party movement into one entity. Sessions is also the featured politician in a new advertising campaign reviving the anti-George W. Bush agenda that helped propel Obama to office.
Here's the DNC ad:
This Saturday, Rigell and Sessions will have a dinner discussion on the state of our country. Folks who want into the event will need to pay $250. Here how Rigell's campaign described Sessions.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
6:00-7:30pm, The Cavalier Yacht & Country Club
$250/individual
Congressman Sessions serves on the powerful House Rules Committee. First elected to Congress in 1996, Pete Sessions focuses on reforms that will lead to a better life for all Americans. His goals in Congress include advancing job creation, providing quality education for all Americans, lowering taxes, reducing teen drug use and guaranteeing the retirement security of every generation of Americans. Noting that character does matter, he believes that no elected official is above the law and must be accountable for his actions. As the parent of a child with Down Syndrome, he is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities.
On Tuesday, Rigell will hold a $250 a plate luncheon with U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Louisiana, a GOPer who might not be a household name, but one who is surely setting himself to be a friend of many of the new Republicans expected to head to Congress.
Boustany has only been in Congress since 2005. But this month, Boustany found out that he would face a re-election challenge and quickly signed a $240,000 check to Sessions and the NRCC to help the group back challengers on the campaign trail this fall. It ought to be interesting to see how much these folks bring in - because they clearly know where to find deep pockets.
Here are the details on Boustany's visit - along with Rigell's description.
Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr., M.D. (LA-07)
Member of the House Ways and Means Committee
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
12:00-1:15pm, Town Center City Club
$250/individual
Congressman Boustany is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax, trade, healthcare and entitlement policy, where he serves as the top Republican on the Oversight Subcommittee. Boustany was elected to Congress in December 2004 to represent Louisiana's Seventh Congressional District, following a successful career as a cardiothoracic surgeon. During his tenure in Congress, Boustany has promoted common-sense solutions to the problems facing all Americans, including sensible healthcare reform and sound energy policy. Congressman Boustany delivered the Republican response to President Obama's nationally televised healthcare address in September 2009.
I think its great that Rigell is building such a broad coalition towards victory on November 2nd. I love Congressman Sessions, and for him to take the time to drive all the way down to Virginia Beach on a Saturday (when I'm sure he'd prefer to be at home in Texas), says a lot about how much faith he has in Rigell.
Posted by: Bryan Stuart | Sunday, August 01, 2010 at 02:25 PM