"Local Dems are not heeding Democratic Congressional hopeful Bern Ewert’s advice: Don’t “gamble away this golden opportunity to beat [Republican incumbent Virgil Goode Jr.] with a fifth run for public office by Al Weed.” The delegates in the Fifth District have, it seems, done just the opposite.

With only 39 delegates remaining, it appears that Al Weed will be sailing on smooth seas heading into the Virginia’s Democratic Congressional Convention on May 20. At press time, Weed has secured 97 delegates, leaving him four short of the nomination. He got there by picking up 12 of Charlottesville’s 17 delegates, 31 of Albemarle’s 38, and sweeping both Greene and Nelson counties. However, this margin has left Ewert and his folks undaunted. They believe that based on information they have received on pre-filed and undecided delegates, Ewert could still ultimately find himself in the majority.

Team Weed is confident as well. “We are building some great momentum here,” responds an optimistic Weed. Despite his early success, however, he will need even more good fortune should he succeed in attaining the nomination. Weed would find himself up against a formidable foe in Goode, who trounced him two years ago by nearly 30 percent.

Regardless of who pulls through on May 20, strategy will be critical moving towards the general election on November 7. Despite Weed’s claim that “Virgil Goode and the Republican Party have squandered their chance,” both he and Ewert can only gaze up in awe at the huge pile of money that Goode sits on. The Federal Election Commission reports show that Goode has raised $276,000, while Weed has collected just $93,000 so far." (David Goodman, C-Ville Weekly, May 2, 2006)