GOP chair drops out of party to run as Independent in VA congressional race

June 14, 2010 - PRLog -- VIRGINIA BEACH - - X-GOP chairman leaves party to become independent candidate in 3-way congressional race.

Kenny Golden left the GOP after he said the national party establishment skewed the political playing field against others by early on selecting a wealth auto dealer from a primary field of 7 candidates.

The national party 'stacked' the deck against him and the other 6 primary candidates early on by funding and providing massive campaign support and training to primary winner, Scott Rigell.  Golden withdrew from the race and the party.

In the June 8 primary Rigell won with overwhelming funding, more than $1.2M, and took almost 40% of the vote.  The other five candidates shared the remaining 60%, but the 2nd highest, Ben Loyola only polled 24%.

At his campaign headquarters opening Thursday,  Golden said, "We laying the groundwork for an independent candidacy something we haven't had in the 2nd district in many, many years.  With 42% of people in this country listing themselves as independents … largest number in recent history - - gives me a good opportunity."

Golden has already taken an active role in fighting to keep the Navy from moving any aircraft carriers to Mayport, FL - that will cost Tidewater $1.2M a day in salaries alone if 2 carriers leave here.

Neither Nye nor Rigell have the authority of intellect or experience to effectively fight for the carriers. "The car dealer doesn't understand why we're fighting so much for it and he never has.  (Rigell is owner of Freedom Auto car dealerships)>

"In fact in one of the debates, he (Rigell) said, 'well if it makes sense strategically , then I'd say OK.' You know if you can't see that it doesn't make sense strategically, then there's something wrong with you because these carriers are protected in here.

"They're much more vulnerable to attack and disabling in Mayport."

He expects to go up against a campaign war chest, he said,  of about  $6 MILLION from Nye and about $4 MILLION from Rigell

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