Virginia continues to be a key state in setting the political tone in America. I have believed since 2004 that Virginia is a state that can be slowly turned blue. The elections of 2005 and 2006 support my belief. This year the trend continues as we may well easily win the VA Senate race, and Barack Obama is consistently well ahead of McCain in this once safe-red state. But the House races also interest me, both because of our chances of winning a few, but also because the Dem candidates seem to be a particularly good bunch. I think we have a shot at winning VA-11, VA-10 and VA-2, and, with a little more effort, maybe even VA-5. And in each case the Democratic Candidate offers experience that America definitely needs after 8 years of Bush mismanagement. Let me give you a rundown of these four candidates. For all of them you can help by donating through my Virginia Act Blue Site or by volunteering through their websites.

VA-5: Tom Perriello, running for Congress in the VA-5 district against Republican Virgil Goode, may be a particularly important person for us to get into Congress because of his excellent diplomatic record. After 8 years of Bush’s failed foreign policy, we need some people with excellent diplomatic skills in government to help clean up the mess. Goode is stuck in the Bush/McCain thinking. By contrast, Perriello has a record of diplomatic success in difficult regions. Back when Sierra Leone was one of the world’s most violent hot spots, Tom worked with child soldiers, amputees, and local pro-democracy groups, and played a significant role in the peace and reconciliation process that ended twelve years of violence there. He then became Special Advisor and spokesperson for the International Prosecutor during the showdown that forced Liberian dictator Charles Taylor (who was also responsible for the violence in Sierra Leone) from power without firing a shot. THAT is the kind of diplomatic skill America needs after years of Bush/McCain blunders. After this success, Tom served as a national security analyst for the Century Foundation. He has worked inside Darfur and twice in Afghanistan, so he knows about the hot spots of today. This is the kind of leadership we need in Congress! He is raising record amounts of money to defeat the incumbent Republican. For me, this is a critical pick up opportunity. To help out, you can volunteer through Tom's website.

VA-10: Judy Feder is our candidate in the VA-10 district, and she looks to have a good shot at winning. This race is being heavily targeted by the DCCC and the Republicans are running scared. Tom Perriello, running in VA-5, would bring much needed diplomatic experience to Congress. Judy Feder brings much needed experience in health policy and health care, another area where America has been failing under Republican mismanagement.

Judy Feder began her career researching ways to make health care more affordable. Sounds like something we really need right about now!!! She has worked at the Brookings Institution and at the Urban Institute, and is now on the faculty of Georgetown University. From 1999 through 2007 she was Dean of Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute.

Judy's academic achievments are matched by real life government experience. In 1988 she served as Staff Director of the Congressional Pepper Commission, a bipartisan commission on health care. In 1993, she was appointed to the Department of Health and Human Services, where she worked to expand health insurance coverage, manage Medicare and Medicaid effectively, and assure the safety of food and drugs. All of these areas are things that were mismanaged under Bush and the Republican Congress and need fixing. We need an expert like Judy Feder in Congress to help us fix what the Republicans broke! Go here to volunteer to help Judy Feder bring to Congress the health policy experience we need.

VA-2: Glenn Nye is our candidate in the VA-2 district and, just like Tom Perriello, he brings some excellent diplomatic experience to the table…JUST what America needs right now. As a Foreign Service officer, Nye volunteered to serve in conflict zones in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq. He has never been afraid of taking on tough tasks. He received the State Department’s Superior Honor Award for leading a rescue of 26 American citizens and negotiating the release of an American hostage in Macedonia. In Iraq, Nye led operations to create jobs for Iraqis as part of the counter-insurgency effort. This is precisely the kind of experience America needs in Congress. Intelligent, diplomatic and brave, everything that has been missing during the Bush Administration.

Glenn Nye also recognizes our need to change our energy policy. Here he is outlining his energy policy:

To help bring Glenn Nye's intelligence, diplomacy and bravery to Congress, volunteer through his website.

VA-11: This district is fairly evenly split Dem/Repub, so there is a good shot at flipping this seat. Gerry Connolly is our candidate in the VA-11 district. And once again, Connolly brings years of diplomatic experience to the table. Connolly spent 10 years with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. During this time he managed the committee’s oversight of international economic issues, international narcotics control, and United Nations and Middle East policies. He wrote numerous key reports on U.S. policy in Central America, Israel, and the Persian Gulf region.

I am also impressed by the overwhelming support Connolly has been getting from police and firefighters. Connolly has been endorsed by: Fairfax County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics (IAFF Local 2068), Prince William Professional Firefighters (IAFF Local 2598), International Association of Firefighters, Fairfax Coalition of Police (IUPA Local 5000), Fairfax Deputy Sheriffs Coalition (IUPA Local 5016), International Union of Police Associationson, and many others. To help out, you can go here to volunteer.

Each and every one of these candidates is somewhat conservative for my tastes. But they aren’t running to please me, they are running to serve the people of Virginia. But what ever differences I might have with the specifics of their stands, I am extremely impressed with the experience, intelligence, and dedication they would bring to Congress. If these four individuals join Congress this year, it will benefit all Americans. You can help by volunteering through their websites (above) or by donating through my Virginia Act Blue Site.