Potts Watch: "He Could Catch On"

It's been a few weeks since I've updated on the campaign of independent Republican Russ Potts, who's running for governor in Virginia, but I didn't want to let today pass without noting some very favorable reaction Potts received Sunday at a meeting of Virginia's county supervisors.

According to the Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot, Potts received a standing ovation from the county officials after an "energetic" speech in which he strongly criticized his Republican and Democratic opponents as "the free-lunch bunch," and continuing his call for a special legislative session to deal with transportation issues in the Old Dominion.

The article quotes one county supervisor, Paula Burnette of Henry County, as saying "Russ Potts is very convincing. If he can get his message out, he could catch on."

That is, to be sure, a tall order. Potts has raised nowhere near as much money as his opponents (if you are able to give, you can do so here), and has been hamstrung by Kilgore's refusal to allow him into the debates. Recently the organizers of a planned October debate agreed that Potts could participate if he reaches 15% in statewide opinion polls ... since I've said before I would accept such a threshold requirement I will stand by that, and just hope that Potts gets there.

If his speech before the county supervisors has any effect, he just might make it. The press is playing up the differences between the receptions offered to Kilgore and Potts (Kaine's speech was this morning), and that will help. Here's how the Roanoke Times put it:

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore received polite applause from an assembly of county government officials Sunday when he outlined his plan to boost state funding for transportation. But independent candidate Russ Potts and a veteran GOP legislator drew boisterous ovations later when they spoke critically about a key component of Kilgore's plan - using money from the state's general operating fund for transportation projects."

It will be interesting to see what the coverage of Kaine's speech looks like tomorrow, and I know I'll be watching the next few Virginia polls very carefully to see where things stand. Don't count Potts out though - when the other two candidates have been aptly compared to two kids duking it out in a sandbox, the voters of Virginia might be looking for an adult this November, and they might not have to look much beyond Russ Potts.