Last week, Public Policy Polling released the results a new survey showing Virginians have a very low opinion of Eric Cantor (VA-07).

“This poll shows that Virginians are tired of Eric Cantor’s partisan political gamesmanship. Virginians are looking to Congress for solutions — instead, Cantor spends his time on power politics and focused on his own personal political ambitions.” said Wayne Powell, Democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 7th congressional district.

“Virginians all across the state reject Cantor’s ideological obstructionism. Virginians remember that, after last summer’s earthquake, Cantor held disaster relief for Louisa County hostage. He delayed help for his own constituents to score political points with his Tea Party cronies in his own party. Even Republicans are growing leery of Cantor’s extreme partisan power grabs,” added Powell.

Just 27% of Virginians have a favorable opinion of Cantor. Across demographic groups, Eric Cantor has alienated Virginia voters:

• Eric Cantor’s unpopularity in Virginia is gender blind: Only 28% of men and 27% of women have a favorable opinion of Cantor
• Across age groups, Cantor’s unpopularity holds constant. Just 25% of young voters have a favorable opinion of Cantor, and only 30% of voters older than 65 like Cantor.
• Only 16% of moderate voters have a favorable impression of Eric Cantor, and 51% of moderates have an unfavorable impression.
• Independent voters disapprove of Cantor by 49% unfavorable to 28% favorable.

“These poll numbers prove what I have been hearing all around the district. Voters are tired of politics as usual and, in particular, are tired of Eric and his personal political games. People in the seventh district want a congressman who will work for them,” said Powell.

Outside the Siegel Center with Delegate Delores McQuinn.

I attended yesterday’s Ready to Go Rally in Richmond, Virginia to help Barack Obama launch his run for re-election.  It was an amazing day.  The huge crowd gathered outside the Siegel Center for hours before the event.  It took two hours for everyone to file inside, but the venue was packed by the time the President arrived. The wait was well worth it; when the President arrived the crowd went wild with excitement.  The President’s speech was inspiring and there are at least 8,000 Obama supporters who are now fired up and ready to go!

Inside the Siegel Center; the excitement is building!

Texting my campaign headquarters.

The man we all came to see and hear: President Barack Obama!

The Obamas wave to the crowd at the packed Siegel Center.

Food and refreshments will be provided. Folks attending the convention in Richmond in the morning are especially welcome to swing by in the afternoon for good Democratic company and a bite to eat.

WHEN: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, May 19, 2012
WHERE: Powell Campaign Headquarters, 421 Branchway Rd, Richmond Va, 23236
PRICE OF ADMISSION: FREE, but please bring an office supply for the campaign (printer paper or dry erase markers, for example)

Abbi Easter, the 7th Distrct chair, was notified April 11 by David Hunsicker of Lake of the Woods that “I am officially releasing my delegate candidates … and will no longer be a candidate.”

As a result, the assembled caucus scheduled for Saturday, April 14, in Orange and the 7th District Democratic Convention scheduled for Saturday, April 28, in Henrico County have been cancelled.

Mr. Powell will oppose Eric Ivan Cantor in the November general election.

Powell supports full funding for Medicare and Social Security. He would support ending tax breaks for the top 1 percent of wage earners and ending oil subsidies. The ending of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as soon as possible should be a top national priority, he said. He said he supports health-care reform and immigration reform.

“In my view … fixing Washington would be in large part accomplished by defeating Eric Cantor,” Mr. Powell said. He said Cantor is someone “who embodies much of what is wrong with the political system as it operates in our country today.”

A native of Richmond, Powell served 30 years as an active-duty and Reserve Army officer in intelligence.

He has spent 31 years as a trial attorney, since 1999 as president of Powell & Parrish, a Midlothian-based law firm. During the 1980s, Powell was an assistant attorney general and deputy commissioner of the Virginia Worker’s Compensation Commission.

Mr. Hunsicker confirmed on his Facebook page that he had dropped out of the race. “I have seen the delegate numbers from the counties, and it would seem that only a series of both unusual and lucky events could now allow my candidacy to move forward. So that the various chairs and committees don’t have to hold caucuses and a convention with little value, I wish to suspend my campaign for the Democratic nomination for Congress from Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. I am a Democrat first and a candidate second. Mr. Powell, I wish you well in your efforts to prevail against Eric Cantor. ”

Eric Cantor, the House majority leader, is largely responsible for the ineffectiveness of the 112th Congress by undermining the spirit of co-operation and compromise so necessary to the strength of a Democracy. Cantor’s slavish loyalty to special interests and his own raw ambition have effectively left Orange County without representation.

Henry Lee Carter, chair of the Orange County Democratic Committee, confirmed the cancellation of the Orange County caucus, saying, “To those who agreed to serve as Orange County delegates, we appreciate your willingness to serve and give up two Saturdays to accomplish this task.”

Speaking from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky on Friday, Wayne’s said his son (Sean Andre Powell, Major US Army, 101st Airborne Division) is about to be shipped to Afghanistan for a nine to twelve-month tour. It is his second tour after his deployment to Iraq between 2006-07. “He’s doing what he signed up to do,” said Powell about his son. “Just like I did.”

Wayne Powell served for 30 years as a Reserve and Active Duty Army officer. He recalled being mobilized after 9/11 to command a specialized intelligence unit, the first of its kind after the terrorist attacks. He retired as a full Colonel from active duty in July 2002, receiving the Legion of Merit in the process.

Powell was born and raised in Church Hill. At about the age of seven, his family moved to Highland Park where he spent his “entire youth.” He earned a J.D. law degree from the University of Richmond in 1980 and spent most of his 31 years of practicing law as a trial attorney. Powell said he is running for Congress to “change the dialogue in Washington.”

Speaking of Cantor, Powell called the House Majority Leader “fiscally irresponsible,” adding that “the initiatives he takes are not designed to help citizens of the 7th district.” He notes in particular the STOCK Act.

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act) is designed to counter insider trading involving members of Congress, their staff and associates. Eric Cantor introduced a version of the bill in 2011 after stalling previous incarnations. His version removed a provision that the Senate had previously approved that required people who trade on “political intelligence” to register as political intelligence consultants. Many see this as a form of insider trading that uses information from government, including Powell.

“He’s gutted that act,” said Powell. This is but one issue that concerns him. He decided that “instead of yelling at the television” he would take on the “dysfunctional” Congressman. It will not be easy.

Stretching from Richmond’s West End through Henrico and Chesterfield counties, the 7th congressional district has not voted for a democratic representative since John O. Marsh, Jr. who served from 1963 – 1971. “I realize it’s an uphill battle,” said Powell. He also said that he plans to show residents of the district that “the big D [i.e. the Democratic Party] is not a dirty word.”

While many still believe Democrats have a “tax-and-spend” financial philosophy, Powell said that he is “not a tax and spend liberal.” He cites being a business owner for the last twenty years and having thirteen employees at his law offices as qualities that make him mindful of businesses and financial matters (“I know the struggles and challenges of the business man”). He says that, in addition to Democratic voters, he hopes to appeal to independent voters. He also plans to court moderate Republicans, as he feels that the Republican Party has moved “so far right” that they are not in line with most Americans, let alone residents of the 7th district. Overcoming Cantor’s name recognition, however, may prove problematic.

To counter this, Powell said that he has a “national campaign.” In addition to resources among the legal community, he has held fundraisers as far away as the West Coast. To him, not only is resonating with voters important, but also establishing the capital means to take on Cantor.

As to his opponent, Powell said “I don’t expect for him to even acknowledge me.” He said that he doubts the House Majority Leader will agree to debate him, which Powell welcomes. “He’s a pure political animal,” he said. “This is what we have to eliminate [from the political landscape in Washington].” As the campaign amplifies in the coming months, Powell is confident with what he will offer voters versus his opponent: “My resume is much better than his.”