Um, ok:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/...
A staffer on Newt Gingrich's 2012 presidential campaign is spearheading an effort to encourage the former speaker of the house to launch a U.S. Senate bid in Virginia, The Hill reported Wednesday.
Andrew Hemingway, who served as state director in New Hampshire and national digital fundraising director for Gingirch's 2012 campaign, will launch Draft Newt PAC to convince his former boss to challenge Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) next year.
"We want a credible challenger to Mark Warner, and no one could do what Newt could do to fight -— and win," Hemingway said in a statement, according to The Hill. "U.S. Senator Newt Gingrich would be an immediate game changer, giving conservatives another voice that would take the fight to the Obama administration." - TPM, 9/18/13
Good luck convincing the Newt to come out and play:
http://thehill.com/...
The prospects of persuading the former Speaker (R-Ga.) to run seem highly uncertain. Gingrich, who has lived in Virginia's suburbs for years, recently took the job as a host of CNN's relaunched "Crossfire." Warner's approval ratings have been rock-solid in the swing state.
But Gingrich, who has high name recognition and a flair for drawing media attention, could make the race a lot more interesting if he decides to run. - The Hill, 9/18/13
This was going to be a boring race and Warner was going to easily win re-election due to his name recognition and popularity as both Governor and Senator:
http://theweek.com/...
Yet should Gingrich heed the call to run, he would start from a disadvantageous position.
Warner is in great shape for re-election, according to polls. A July PPP survey found him with a 51-31 percent approval rating, and showed him easily defeating all potential challengers.
"Mark Warner was elected by a huge margin in 2008 and it looks like he will be again in 2014," says Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
As for Gingrich, public opinion may not be on his side. A CNN survey last February found that 63 percent of Americans viewed Gingrich unfavorably. - The Week, 9/18/13
I for one always enjoy seeing Gingrich make an ass of himself but good luck getting him to run. In Warner related news, the Senator from Virginia will be chairing this hearing:
http://www.nbc29.com/...
Sen. Mark R. Warner will chair a hearing in Washington on reducing fraud and abuse by improved tracking of federal spending.
The Virginia Democrat is chairman of the Budget Committee Task Force on Government Performance, which will hold the hearing Wednesday. The task force provides oversight and recommendations on ways to increase the performance and reduce the cost of federal agencies and programs.
Warner says the federal government does not have an "open and accountable" system for tracking every dollar it spends. He says the hearing will explore the value of fully disclosing those expenditures. - NBC 29, 9/18/13
By the way, Warner is calling on his colleagues in the Senate to pass the Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency act:
There’s a bill on the floor of the Senate with the power to create 136,000 new jobs while saving American families and businesses close to $14 billion a year.
It’s bipartisan legislation that moves America another step closer to energy independence and away from our reliance on foreign oil by encouraging the use of energy efficient technologies in American homes, businesses and by the federal government.
But The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act is stalled thanks to the the extreme partisan tactics of a few who are standing in the way of its passage.
Will you join me and Senators Shaheen, Coons, Gillibrand, Pryor, Schatz and Udall to call on Congress to pass this energy bill now?
http://www.energysavingsreform.com/...
We waste a shocking 86% of the energy we consume. It’s huge problem and increased energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest way to start solving it.
This bill is good for the environment, good for job-creation, and good for our wallets -- all without adding a penny to the deficit.
A broad coalition of business and environmental groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club, have lined up to support this bill -- but it’s still stuck.
We need your support to move it forward. Please join me and tell Congress to come together and pass this bill to reduce waste and create jobs:
http://www.energysavingsreform.com/...
There’s too much at stake to allow this bill to fall victim to the usual gridlock and hyper-partisan dysfunction. I need your voice today.
Thanks for all you do,
Mark Warner
You can click here to sign Warner's petition:
http://www.energysavingsreform.com/...