As predicted, retired Army colonel Patrick Murray is preparing for an electoral rematch with Rep. Jim Moran in 2012.
Murray has announced that he will again seek the Republican nomination in the upcoming Virginia 8th District House of Representatives race. After losing to Moran by a final vote of 61 percent to 37 percent in 2010, Murray is pulling no punches in his criticism of the ten-term Democratic congressman.
Murray sent the following email to supporters last night.
Today I’m announcing my candidacy for US Congress in the 8th Congressional District of Virginia. This decision to run for a second time took much soul-searching, thought and prayer. Campaigns are a crucible, but, just as with my military service, this is a matter of duty for me. If I thought our nation was on the right track, that we had leaders who were governing with the Constitution and our children in mind, that we were secure and prosperous, then I would happily pursue other goals.
But we are not on the right track, and I’m willing to bet that you agree with me. In fact, our nation is losing its way, largely because of bad decisions made in Washington, DC. With $15 trillion in federal debt, we are handing our kids and grandkids a bill they can’t pay, yet out-of-control spending continues unabated. The only thing being cut is Defense, which is one of the few things that, in accordance with our Constitution, we should be ensuring for. The economy is stagnant. Unemployment is soaring. Meanwhile my opponent Jim Moran, who likes to call Republicans the “Taliban,” is focused on keeping just one job: his own. And here in Northern Virginia our traffic debacle has somehow gotten worse, especially with the mammoth new Mark Center building (supported by Moran) opening for business on I-395.
Hyper-partisanship. Traffic Gridlock. Out-of-control spending. Or as I prefer to call it: “Jim Moran’s playbook.”
When I joined the Army some 26 years ago I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution – there is no statute of limitations on that oath. So I told myself that I could sit around and complain about it or I could roll up my sleeves and try to fix the problems and find a way back to who we are. And that’s what I intend to do.
Winning will not be easy. I am a decided underdog in a tough Congressional District running against a career politician who is very good at bullying, intimidation and self preservation. That’s the bad news.
On the flip side, there is much to be optimistic about. In 2010 when I ran, I started at ground zero, freshly out of the Army with no campaign experience, no name recognition and only a handful of supporters. Well, I’m very proud of what we accomplished; over 72,000 people voted for me, we raised a substantial amount of money, and we had legions of energetic volunteers out knocking doors, making phone calls, putting out signs and stuffing envelopes. Now we have that firm foundation to stand upon, and redistricting should also help our side. Combine all of that with Party backing and a dynamic, professional campaign team with national experience and a solid record of winning difficult races in tough Districts and we are light years ahead of where we were last time.