Cantor reacts to Powell RNC ad blitz

It may have come as a surprise to Fox News Channel viewers in the Richmond area taking in the Republican National Convention, television ads indirectly attacking House Majority Leader Eric Cantor by his opponent E. Wayne Powell.

Powell bought enough ad space on Fox News Channel that the ad ran at least once every hour during the entire convention.

Here is a look at the ad:

The ad is designed to attract republicans which make up a huge majority of the 7th congressional district.  Powell is gambling that many of them are unhappy with Cantor, even if they share the same party affiliation.

"It hasn't mattered if they're party-affiliated or independent," said Powell in a statement.  "I have yet to knock on a single door where the person answering is happy with what's going on in the Cantor-run Congress."

Cantor chuckled when we asked him about the ad during an interview from Tampa Bay during the convention, but then said that he is "taking this race very seriously."

In 2010 the incumbent was criticized for not engaging his then opponent Rick Waugh. This time around Cantor quickly agreed to a debate with Powell.

"We are looking forward to a debate with Mr. Powell on the issues that will effect so many people in our Commonwealth," Cantor said.

Powell who is for the most part unknown in the 7th district, last made headlines when he represented the group of pro-choice protesters who were arrested for marching on the steps of the Capitol during the General Assembly session.  The local attorney has run a spirited race to this point, driven by his well known political strategist Dave "Mudcat" Saunders. 

Saunders believes there is enough fatigue in Cantor's district that a strong candidate could topple the powerful leader.

"Without question, Cantor's abysmal approval rating is the reason Republicans aren't letting him address the convention," Saunders said.  He believes the more people get to know Powell the more Cantor could face a tight race. Saunders has already engineered quite a bit of national face time for Powell's candidacy on cable news channels. In particular liberal talk shows on MSNBC.

The appearances have helped Powell's fund raising efforts.

Despite the pep in the step of the Powell effort, few view Cantor as being in any danger come November. While Cantor appears to be prepared to engage Powell to a degree, expect him to run a campaign based primarily on his accomplishments. It will be rare that he even mentions his opponent.

There could be some fireworks, but it will take quite a bit to make the race truly competitive.

Extended clips from Cantor's comments can be found below:

Comments

[Rogerleek]

Eric Cantor is a smug career politician who is an embarrassment to the 7'th district and American democracy. If he wins reelection it will be nothing more than a testament to our broken and corrupt election process.

[Ellen Goldstein]

Its your editorial opinion that 'it will take quite a bit to make the race truly competitive?' I think we could live without that.

[Jim Quist]

Cantor has taken his home turf for granted for too long. His leadership of the "do-nothing" Congress is embarrassing to Virginians who aren't as concerned with party as they are with what's right. Cantor is part of what's wrong. Looking forward to the debate with Mr. Powell where everyone can judge for themselves Cantor's "accomplishments".

[K Carle]

It is true that Cantor never debates his opponents, but Cantor did NOT quickly agree to debate Wayne Powell. The only reason he has agreed to debate Col. Powell now is to make it LOOK like he is willing to debate. He is willing this time is because the debate will NOT be open to the public. It will only be open to memmbers of the Chamber of Commerce, many of whom are his supporters & contributers.

This debate is reminiscent of his taxpayer-paid faux job fair where most of the emplyers were his supporters. That would be fine, except that very FEW of the companies actually had any job openings. Even fewer of the jobs were in central Virginia. The local media showed Cantor making a speech. What they failed to show was the people exiting who had stood in the heat for hours in dress clothes with resume in hand. Many were angry & a few in tears.

The difference here will be that Cantor will be actually facing his opponent. Even under this tightly- controlled format, Cantor hasn't counted on meeting such a formidable foe, but he hasn't met Wayne Powell yet.

[mudcat]

Ryan-"There could be some fireworks."

Mudcat-"There will be some fireworks."

Good piece.

[Jainv]

Wait... Powell wants voters to think he's going to oppose his own party and its leadership? That's not going to happen.

How many people here know about Obama's Transpacific Partnership Trade Agreement, referred to as "NAFTA on Steroids"?
http://truth-out.org/news/item/10150-trans-pacific-partnership-trade-agreement-seals-obamas-pro-corporate-approach-to-foreign-policy

Or about Obama's "jobs czar" Jeffrey Immelt, the CEO of GE, who is a nut on China?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=suN-9FrBi7E

Or how the Democrats are hypocrites on Outsourcing?
http://socialistworker.org/blog/critical-reading/2012/07/16/democrats-are-hypocrites-outso

[joe cotton]

Surprise! Watch Cantor lose.

[Sftommy]

Fiscal Conservatives see Cantor adding over a $Trillion a year to the Federal Deficit to pay for tax breaks to wealthy folk.

Then there are the allegations of misfeasance in office over his handling of the Stock Act and exempting his wife, Diana.

There's also billionaire Sheldon Adelson, buying favors from Eric with multi-million dollar campaign contributions that are reaping Adelson billion$.

Then there's Mr. Cantors continued attack on American labor, their rights, their benefits in favor of corporate profits and CEO salaries. How far will Cantor go to keep an honest working man down?

Social Security's deconstruction looms with GOP promising insurance companies a cut of my social security savings with their voucher ideas. Taking even more from the poor and aged to feed corporate profits.

Virginian's have some notoriety as free-thinkers...this is one your moments.