NEWS

FOR RELEASE: On Receipt

April 24, 2008

STATEMENT OF: Bill Kling, News Director, Marshall for Senate

SUBJECT: Gilmore campaign’s claim of victory

Baloney! That was our succinct reaction several days ago when Jim Gilmore’s campaign issued a statement, attributed to its field director, Matt Wells, claiming already to have enough committed delegates to win the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate at the May 30-31 Republican State Convention in Richmond.

First, delegates in several key areas won’t be elected until this coming weekend, and Bob Marshall’s campaign has confidence that the nomination fight is too close to call.

Second, “President” Dewey learned in 1948 that voters decide elections, not Republican pollsters peddling fudge.

Yes, we believe the Wells statement has more fudge than fact. We’re positive.

● For starters, it’s practically impossible for the Gilmore campaign to have polled so many thousands of delegates in so short a time – and that with supreme confidence that enough of them will stick with their commitment for a Gilmore victory at the convention more than five weeks from now.

● Then there’s the consideration that the Gilmore claim differs substantially from our own estimate (with opposite results) in areas where we’re fairly sure of our numbers – and many delegates, previously for Gilmore, have been switching recently to Bob Marshall as they learn more about where the two candidates stand on important issues.

● finally, there’s a troubling bit of history involving a political campaign trick.

The Gilmore campaign is directed by long-time Gilmore confidante Dick Leggitt, who testified in a Colorado court in 2006 that he fabricated polling data for a gubernatorial campaign he was managing there and gave it to a Denver Post reporter, a violation of state law. Leggitt resigned from that campaign “one week after [he] admitted under oath that he sent false polling numbers to a reporter,” according to a May 6, 2006, article in the Rocky Mountain News (attached).

“Leggitt said he sent bogus numbers to the Denver Post but called it ‘spin,’” the newspaper reported, “and implied that it's a common practice among political operatives.”

No, Mr. Leggitt, not “spin.” Fudge.

Webster’s dictionary defines the non-sweet term as “put together dishonestly or carelessly; fake.” We agree. Fudge. Completely baloney.

-XXX-

NEWS CONTACT: Bill Kling, 804-580-4050 (telephone), 804-761-4430 (cellphone), e-mail kling@usa.net

Marshall for Senate, Inc., Post Office Box 458, Manassas, Virginia 20108 ● bobmarshall2008.com