At seven spots around Virginia's 5th Congressional District Saturday, Nelson County Democrat Al Weed formally announced his campaign to run for the House of Representatives seat currently held by Republican incumbent Virgil Goode.
Weed admitted that he faces an uphill battle in trying to end Goode's eight-year congressional career, but said that he remains committed to winning the election.
"I'm running to win, I'm not running to make a statement and build my ego," Weed said."I'm running because I feel that I can win and it's important to win."
In describing his qualifications to beat Goode, Weed touted his history of community and military service, including tours of Panama and Vietnam.
Weed added that the key to beating a well-liked incumbent was to "build an organization that will get out the vote in November."
Weed says his campaign also faces an uphill battle financially -- trying to meet a goal of $500,000 in order to compete against Goode's "access to virtually unlimited money." Weed says the campaign currently has raised $70,000.
The announcement of Weed's campaign comes two years after Charlottesville Vice Mayor Meredith Richards's failed candidacy against Goode in 2002. Although Goode overwhelmingly defeated Richards, Weed said that he has learned from her campaign.
He emphasized the need to start campaigning early and explained that Richards' May 2002 entrance in the campaign was too late to catch up with Goode's campaign funds.
"The money came in too late for Richards' campaign -- especially against an incumbent that is widely known and personally liked," Weed said.
He also said that, unlike Richards, being a male and not a Charlottesville resident "sadly" would increase his appeal to 5th district voters.
Weed criticized Goode's performance in office.
"He's been in congress for eight years and gotten only one substantive bill passed," Weed said, referring to Goode's introduction of a 2000 bill establishing Nelson Co. as a federally recognized wilderness area (HR4646). Weed said the bill wouldn't have been passed had he not "done the groundwork" to gain support.
Goode was unavailable for comment Sunday.
Many people said they doubt the potency of Weed's campaign.
Charlottesville Republican Committee Vice-Chair John Pfaltz said Weed's battle against Goode would be tough.
"My guess is that he won't even have the support that Meredith Richards had," Pfaltz said.
Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato said that Goode was undoubtedly the favorite in the 5th District race, comparing Weed's uphill battle to climbing Mt. McKinley.
"Virgil Goode is a substantial favorite," Sabato said. "He defeated Meredith Richards in a landslide who had a record as an elected official. In this case he's being opposed by a person who has never been elected to anything."
Sabato said that Goode can usually carry 60 percent of the vote in the northern 5th District counties, and 80 percent of the vote near his Rocky Mount home in Southern Virginia.
"You can never rule out an upset," Sabato said."But this would be a massive upset if Goode were to be defeated -- it's very unlikely."
Weed said that his first head-to-head debate with Goode will be at Longwood University on March 2.
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