There are a number of detailed reviews of the First Congressional District Republican nominating convention.
Not Larry Sabato has vote counts on each ballot broken down by districts through the third of five ballots.
Bacon's Rebellion has some personal observations of nominee Rob Wittman and supported James Bowden who posts there and at
Deo Vindice. Jim Hoeft at
Bearing Drift has collected some interesting comments and reaction.
The
Shad Plank provided coverage through the convention. I noted Hugh's reporter was stationed below the rear of the bleachers on the convention floor, just below where I was sitting, there being very few places to plug in on the high school gymnasium floor. I was able to read their post simultaneously as they were posted via Treo. The lead photo above was taken from the top of the bleachers assigned to the Newport News contingent.
I ran into at least three representatives from Virginia Virtucon during the course of the day and their salute to Rob Wittman is
here.
More interesting though are my impressions of the convention and the convention process and the similarities to Chris Guy's report from the 1st CD Democratic Party Convention in Williamsburg.
I attended the convention as a delegate personally committed to Sherwin Bowditch of Gloucester and rode up to Caroline County (and back) on the bus his campaign organized. The process included obtaining a delegate application form and attending the Newport News mass meeting. At the mass meeting all of those who submitted a delegate application form and who met the qualifications of being registered to vote in the 1st CD were selected. The delegation was entirely independent, there being no instructions from the mass meeting committing the delegates to any candidate. Although Newport News had 53 votes, there were over 114 delegates certified giving each one a proportional vote of the 53 total. Since every delegate who applied and qualified was certified, the support for each candidate depended on getting their qualified supporters to submit applications. As evidenced by the first ballot vote, Newport News sent delegates representing most of candidates. Caprara, O'Neill, and interestingly Wittman received no votes on that first ballot from the Newport News delegation.
The Delegates and candidates from across Virginia's First congressional district converged at Caroline High School to nominate a candidate to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of JoAnn Davis. By 11 a.m. the school was filled with eager candidates, delegates and supporters forming a swirling, noisy, but congenial mass. Delegates stood in long queues to register, hospitality suites came to life in what the day before were classrooms full of students.
On the gymnasium floor the business of the convention began at 1 p.m. Republican Party of Virginia Chairman John H. Hagar was the opening speaker taking note of the results of Tuesday's election and urging attendees to support the nominee.
The second ballot showed little movement in the Newport News delegation with Bowditch and Jost nearly equally split with about 20 each, 7 for Davis and the remaining 6 split between other candidates.
On the third ballot with Caprara, Corderman, O'Neill and Quartel eliminated, there was still little movement, Bowditch stood at 22, Jost at 20 with just under 6 for Davis, .98 for Wittman. This ballot resulted in Bowden being eliminated but he had received more or less than 3 votes from Newport News on the first three ballots. He also endorsed Jost. It was clear that with Bowden out, the most likely source of votes for the leaders on that ballot, Jost, Davis and Bowditch all from the lower peninsula were the 18 Bowden votes in York County and 8 in Poquoson.
On the fourth ballot it was clear this had not happened. The York delegation swung more support to Wittman and he came in second to Jost on this ballot, with Black eliminated. While the fourth ballot votes were being tabulated by each delegation, a meeting of great import took place with Bowditch, Whitman and Davis attending. As the fourth ballot results were announced, Black withdrew. Then the drama. Both Davis and Bowditch withdrew in a very classy move, and threw their support to Wittman.
The convention recessed for the fifth and final ballot. By this time it was 10 p.m. and the delegates had been there for 10 or more hours. As a Bowditch supporter, I was now able to vote freely. Although the votes were tabulated, prior to them being reported on the convention floor, and with the results clear if unstated, Paul Jost withdrew, leaving Wittman the victor.
Throughout the convention while candidates were eliminated they indicated to whom they wished their supporters would now turn, but there was no instruction or caucus of the Newport News delegation, and each delegate remained independent. Despite the many comments on the various mentioned blogs about the republicans did this or that or were looking for a more or less conservative candidate, this was truly a selection of individual delegates, interested enough in grass roots democracy to apply and become a delegate, attend the mass meeting, travel to Caroline county, sit through a long day in gymnasium bleachers and finally, democratically, select a candidate.
Raising Kaine reports that the Northern Neck delegates in Williamsburg were "not pleased" with the results. Riding back on the Bowditch bus, I had the impression that everyone felt the process was fair and reasoned. Arriving in Newport News at midnight, exhausted, but definitely among gracious and convivial friends, one piece of a true grass roots process came to a respectful and respectable end.
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