GOP Cat Fight in Virginia Second District

I recently wrote about Jessica Sandlin, a gay friendly candidate running for the GOP nomination in Virginia's second congressional district. While Jessica is viewed as a long shot in the six way race for the nomination by many, the struggle between the GOP establishment's anointed nominee, Scott Rigell, (at left) and the Tea Party candidate, Ben Loyola (at far left) , could open the door for a third candidate to win the nomination. Given Virginia's open primaries, this means that Democrats could go and vote and for a candidate that is not a Kool-Aid drinker and/ot Tea Party whack job. Today's Virginian Pilot looks at the Rigell v. Loyola contest. Frankly, I find BOTH Rigell and Loyola to be scary. I urge residents of the 2nd District to vote on June 8, 2010 and support Jessica or one other the other more sane GOP candidates. Here are some story highlights:
*
Virginia’s top elected Republicans have made clear who they want to win the party’s nomination in the 2nd Congressional District. On Wednesday, leaders of two conservative anti-tax groups announced their choice. It is not the same person.
*
The Hampton Roads Tea Party’s seven-member board and Robert Dean, head of the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance, said they are backing Ben Loyola in large part because of his vow to support across-the-board tax cuts and a smaller federal government. The groups’ leaders said they couldn’t support candidate Scott Rigell, who is backed by several GOP leaders including Gov. Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.
*
Voters in the district, which includes Virginia Beach, the Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Hampton, will go to the polls June 8 to select a nominee from among the six candidates. The winner will take on U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a one-term Democrat, and independent candidate Kenny Golden in November. Loyola, owner of an engineering firm, said he expects the new endorsements
*
Should Loyola, the Tea Party candidate, win, it obviously increases Nye's chances of re-election. Meanwhile, it would be nice to back Sandlin to show that there are still some normal, rational Republicans left.