Can you buy an election? We may be about to find out. The Washington Free Beacon posted an article today about the gubernatorial campaign in Virginia. Tom Perriello is one of the Democratic candidates for governor.
The article reports:
Tom Perriello, a Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia, has pulled in a majority of his campaign contributions from donors who live outside the state.
The family of liberal billionaire George Soros has also donated nearly 20 percent of all of the money that has been given to Perriello’s campaign.
Perriello, who represented Virginia’s fifth congressional district until becoming the director of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, is challenging Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in the June Democratic primary.
A website called leftexposed.org describes the Center for American Progress as follows:
The Center for American Progress think tank and the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the Center’s 501(c)(4) arm, were founded by former Clinton White House chief of staff John Podesta (2013 compensation $244,874). Podesta served as President of CAP until 2013, when he left to join the White House staff as a Senior Counselor to the President. Podesta was succeeded by Neera Tanden (2013 compensation, $316,346). Tanden was a policy advisor to both the Bill and Hillary Clinton Presidential campaigns and the Barack Obama Presidential campaign. The Action Fund lobbying companion is run by former Democratic Representative Tom Perriello (compensation $151,146).
If Tom Perriello wins the primary in June, it will be a definite left turn for the State of Virginia. It would also put a George Soros funded candidate on the ballot in a state where many people work for or are closely involved with the federal government. I am not totally comfortable with that.
The article concludes:
“Virginia voters are quickly learning that Tom Perriello is a hypocrite on multiple issues, including campaign finance,” Jon Thompson, spokesman for the Republican Governors Association, told the Washington Free Beacon. “He bemoans big money in politics, but a large majority of his contributions come from far-left billionaires. He touts that his campaign is ‘people-powered’ by Virginia voters, but most of his contributions come from donors outside of the Commonwealth.”
“Virginians need a governor who they can trust to keep their word, but Perriello’s campaign mantra continues to be “Do as I say, not as I do.” Voters can’t trust what comes out of his mouth.”
Ralph Northam, Perriello’s opponent in the Democratic primary, has raised $4.4 million to date. Almost 90 percent of his donations have come from Virginians.
Perriello is also garnering support from a number of politicians from outside Virginia including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), who both endorsed Perriello.
Virginia Democrats, including Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, are backing Northam.
In June we will find out if money can buy elections in Virginia.