Danville News - Republicans Uniting Around Hurt to Face Perriello

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By Catherine Amos

A few hundred supporters chanted Robert Hurt's name as he made an appearance at his victory party in Danville Tuesday night. Jovial and confident, the crowd warmly welcomed their Republican congressional nominee.

Hurt called the win "a great victory tonight as we march to beat Tom Perriello."

Hurt won 48.4 percent of the vote Tuesday. Hurt won with nearly 85 percent of the vote in Danville and more than 82 percent in Pittsylvania County. Local turnout exceeded predictions, with nearly 9 percent of voters turned out in Danville, and more than 11 percent of voters came to the county polls.

On the northern end of the 5th District, Hurt also won liberal Charlottesville with nearly 30 percent and took second in Albemarle County with nearly 24 percent.

Thanking his supporters, Hurt also thanked his opponents. He said he received "gracious phone calls" from Laurence Verga, Ken Boyd and Ron Ferrin. He did not mention Feda Kidd Morton, Mike McPadden, or Jim McKelvey.

"We had seven good people," he said. "The 5th District is better for this contest and better for the commitment of those six other candidates who also put themselves out and … worked so hard for this day."

Hurt's victory speech heavily referenced the Founding Fathers, touting conservative principles such as limited government and fiscal responsibility.

"This race is about whether we want to return to our founding principles," he said, "… or continue down this road of … recklessness."

Winning with almost 50 percent of the vote, Hurt overcame the tough electoral fight put up by the tea party. Hurt's win probably means Danville business owner Jeff Clark will run as an independent in the November election. Clark has said for months he will run as and independent if Hurt were to win the nomination. Clark, along with some tea party activists, consider Hurt too much of a moderate to vote for him in November.

McKelvey said before Tuesday he will not support Hurt and will support a third-party candidate.

But reached by phone Tuesday night, Danville Tea Party Leader Nigel Coleman said he was "pretty comfortable" saying the local group would support Hurt in November.

"We feel that it is best to unite behind one candidate and push through til November," Coleman said. "We really feel it's not good to split the vote and let Perriello have another two years."

Neither Clark nor McKelvey could be reached Tuesday night.

Isaac Wood, who follows House races for the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said that Hurt's victory showed some of the "perils and disorganization" behind the tea party, which failed to unite behind a single candidate to oppose Hurt in the primary.

"The real question will be moving forward," Wood said. "… Republicans will likely … work behind closed doors to keep everyone in line and out of Jeff Clark's camp."

Even with Clark in the fray, Wood said Perriello was still endangered, with chances no better than 50/50. Hurt stressed the necessity to unite behind one candidate.

"We are prepared to beat Tom Perriello -- and whoever else files to run," Hurt said afterward. "I believe all our opponents should -- and will -- gather behind us to take on Tom Perriello."

In closing his speech to his supporters, he had a final message for the incumbent congressman.

"Tom Perriello, let me say this," Hurt said. "The battle starts today, right here, right now."

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