Hi, George --

How can we avoid picking another conservative candidate [for the 25th District Virginia Senate] because he/she can win only to later have the winner defect like Congressman Goode and Delegate Abbitt.

We keep electing our future opposition.

Ron Enders (electronic mail, November 7, 2001).

Editor's Note: Unfortunately, I am not familiar with Delegate Abbitt's record. However, I am quite familiar with Virgil Goode. And I can confidently say about all of the candidates who have announced for the Democratic nomination that he/she is no Virgil Goode.

The simple answer is that I don't believe any of the candidates running for the nomination would have sufficient incentive to switch parties. But it is something worth asking the candidates themselves.