8/14/2019 Goodlatte secures ninth term

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Goodlatte secures ninth termBy CAMERON STEELE

Republican incumbent Bob Goodlatte beat out the grassroots campaign of Democrat Sam Rasoul to win thebattle for Virginias 6th Congressional District today.

Goodlatte, from the Roanoke area, has cruised to victory in all of his races since he first won election in 1992.Nationwide, the news Tuesday night was better for Democrats, as they widened the majority in the House thatthey had secured in 2006.

The 27-year-old Rasoul campaigned for nearly two years straight,starting just after Goodlatte won 76 percent of the vote in a landslide

over two independents in 2006. Rasoul based much of his campaignon a platform of congressional reform, promising to returngovernmental control to the middle class and vowing not to takespecial interest or party money in the meantime.

But as Election Day dawned i t was clear it would be a losing battle forthe nations youngest congressional candidate, an entrepreneur andactivist from Botetourt County. Even Rasouls supportersacknowledged it would be tough .

Its an uphill slog going against an entrenched incumbent, MikeOxford, Lexington Democratic Committee chair, said recently. Folksin this part of Virginia tend to be pretty risk-averse. Bob Goodlatte iswhat they know.

With 16 years of experience, Goodlatte is comfortable in the halls of the U.S. Capitol. And he had a lot ofsupport from the traditionally conservative citizens in his district.

Democratic 6th District candidate Sam Rasoulmade a campaign stop in Lexington earlier thismonth. (CAMERON STEELE/RockbridgeReport)

I think Goodlattes been a wonderful servant for the community, Mildred Goughner, a volunteer from theRockbridge Area Republican Committee, said last week. When asked if she was concerned with Rasoulspresence in the race, Goughner laughed.

Oh, no, I dont think so, she said.

Goodlatte had the clear fundraising edge over Rasoul and independent challenger Janice Lee Allen. Accordingto the Center for Responsive Politics, he raised more than $1.3 million with equal parts coming fromindividuals and political action committees and had $1.1 million in cash on hand. Rasoul rasied $285,593and had $87,000 on hand. Allen raised $10,005 95 percent of it self-financed and had about $2,000 in cashon hand.

Even as the heavy favorite, Goodlatte saw the need to raise money. To distinguish himself from the rest of theRepublican ticket, GOP 6th District Vice

Chairman Scott Sayre said, Goodlatte focused on his history of bipartisanship.

Hes got a lot of good policies that make common sense and appeal to both Democrats and Republicans,Sayre said.

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But Oxford said despite poll numbers and fundraising amounts, name recognitionfor Rasoul had increased in Rockbridge County over the past couple of months.Hes worked extremely hard and hes relentless, he said.

Rasoul spent the past 21 months spreading his name and ideas across thedistricts 19 cities and counties.

Weve knocked on over 100,000 doors, he said. And my wife and I havetraveled 100,000 miles across the district trying to bring this message.

Rasoul touted his campaign message in Lexington at public and class meetingsat Washington and Lee University. But even though those who heard him speakwere impressed by his message, few Rockbridge County citizens showed up forthe events.

Goodlatte, on the other hand, launched a campaign that left Rasouls in the dust.He even gained recognition from observers such as the mens magazine Esquire,which endorsed Goodlatte for his independent record on communications and

agriculture.

Goodlatte and Rasoul debated three times throughout the race, once accompanied by Allen . They avoided

attacks on each other almost entirely, although Rasoul didnt hesitate to point out Goodlattes broken pledge toserve only six terms.

When you give your word, that means something. And here you have the incumbent who said Im going to go,do my job, work hard for you, then Im leaving. Well, he didnt keep his word, said Rasoul.

But Goodlattes broken promise apparently didnt dissuade voters. His victory over Rasoul marks the beginningof his ninth term.

Incumbent Rep. Bob Goodlatte,R-Roanoke, right, at U.S. Rep.Frank D. Lucas' House hearing inEl Reno, Okla., Sept. 18, 2006.(AP Photo)