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Because he was in the fight of his political life. Albo won the last election handily. This year the rats went all out to beat him and rat strength had grown in his district. This is the result of changing demographics in No Virginia, A decade ago aside from Alexandria, Arlington (a left liberal rotten borough since the 1940s) and Falls Church all of northern Virginia was reliably Republican. The combination of new immigrant voters and the increasing population density is having the effect of urbanizing the inner suburban counties. Housing prices are among the highest nationwide and the upper middle class white collar 'knowledge professional' is more likely to find feminism, affirmative action, a pacifist foreign policy,
environmentalism (a particular pet rock with these people) and gay rights to be the most compelling issues. The result is a changing face of voters in Fairfax and even parts of Prince William County.

To his credit Albo recognized he had to fight the election and instead of imitating squish Republicanism, which is very popular among a large segment of the party leadership,
he came out fighting blasting his opponent at every opportunity as a big government, high taxing, gun grabbing adulator of the NEA and ACLU. Albo also spent a lot of time speaking at any group meeting that would invite him and doing personal contact operations at Metro stops. The strategy worked and he won with 52% of the vote it was much closer than past years. His district, the 44th, seems going more blue each election for reasons stated above. It is changing as the 42nd just to the north of his has. Until 1993 this district was held by a conservative Republican since then two female radiclib dems have held the seat. The dem incumbent beat a squish leaning repub easily this year.

Albo's continuing success shows conservatives who have teeth can survive. His frustration is in part due to demographics which none can control and a muted and wavering party message coming both from the state central committee and to a degree from across the Potomac.

All politics is local.

GW Bush won re-election nationwide just 1 year ago. Since then gasoline has risen to 2+ dollars a gallon. People care about their pocketbooks -- but local elections don't turn on gasoline.

No one knows or cares who Libby is and Rove has not resigned. This affected 0 votes in Virginia.

The Iraqis are building up their forces and we will start to draw down soon. It will be a clear victory. This will affect 0 votes in the mid term elections next year because . . . all politics is local.

In 18 months GW Bush will resume former popularity. This also will affect zero votes.