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Democrat hopes for an upset in 7th District the candidates

Cantor takes on challenger in 7th District

BY CHELYEN DAVIS

Date published: 11/1/2008

BY CHELYEN DAVIS

RICHMOND--

Democrat Anita Hartke hopes to change that next Tuesday.

"I say we're going to have a landslide Democratic victory, with Barack Obama and Mark Warner," Hartke said last week. "I think the people are fed up and discouraged with the bad times."

Hartke is a real-estate broker in Culpeper County whose father was a U.S. senator from Indiana.

She says she was motivated to get into the 7th Congressional District race when the housing market started to collapse. She advocates allowing homeowners to postpone some mortgage payments until the end of their loan term to give them some breathing room now to catch up on payments.

Hartke also supports the federal financial bailout, but believes it needs more safeguards for consumers, and more work toward alternative energy sources.

A large part of her argument, however, is that Cantor is "out of touch with the needs of the people."

"In order to have the judgment of what the people need, you have to experience some of these things yourself," Hartke said. "This is the reason why we're going to have that Democratic landslide. It's because the people have had enough.

"We've had enough of the failed policies of George Bush and Eric Cantor."

Cantor, from Richmond, is seeking his fifth term representing Virginia's 7th District. He served in the House of Delegates before that.

Cantor is considered a rising Republican star; he's the chief deputy whip in the House of Representatives, and was given an instrumental role in crafting the financial bailout package.

He has won his re-election campaigns with large vote percentages, and had about $607,000 cash on hand in his campaign account as of Oct. 15; Hartke had just under $10,000.

Cantor said his re-election efforts have been focused on reminding district voters of his record and promising more accountability from Washington when it comes to taxpayer money.

Eric Cantor Age: 45 Party: Republican Education: George Washington University; law degree from the College of William & Mary Political offices held: House of Delegates, 1992 to 2001 House of Representatives, 7th District, 2001-present Family: wife, Diana; three children Anita Hartke Age: 48 Party: Democratic Education: Salem College Political offices held: none; active in Democratic politics Family: divorced; three children ERIC CANTOR (R) TOTAL RAISED THIS PERIOD: $438,042 TOTAL SPENT: $404,253 CASH ON HAND: $607,813 TOP DONORS: $10,000 each from American Bankers Association PAC, Capital One Associates Political Fund, Deloitte & Touche Federal PAC, Employees of Northrup Grumman PAC TOP EXPENDITURES: Payroll, $88,946; fundraising consulting, $36,631; catering, $63,761 ANITA HARTKE (D) TOTAL RAISED THIS PERIOD: $41,157 TOTAL SPENT: $31,193 CASH ON HAND: $9,964 TOP DONORS: National Committee for an Effective Congress, $3,000; Harold Boyd of Culpeper, $2,400; Keith Hartke and Paul Hartke, both of Reston, $2,300 each TOP EXPENDITURES: Advertising in Richmond Times-Dispatch, $3,220; copies, faxes, etc., from Staples, $3,000; gas, tolls, auto repair, $3,000

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Date published: 11/1/2008