Time to Help Margi Vanderhye

Based on this, it looks like Del. Margi Vanderhye (D-34th) is going to have a well-financed right-wingnut as an opponent this fall.

The Barbara Comstock for Delegate Campaign (Virginia House District 34) announced today that it has raised approximately $120,000 in the first quarter of this year. In addition, the campaign announced that it received contributions from over 300 individuals since it started fundraising in mid-January of this year.

Who is Barbara Comstock? Back on February 20, I wrote the following about her, pointing out David Brock's description of her in "Blinded by the Right" as "almost unhinged in her passion to bring down the Clintons." I also cited the Washington Post's description of Comstock as "a kind of one-woman wrecking crew targeting Democratic leaders." And then there's this from TPM Muckraker:

While at the RNC, she became a "close associate" of Monica Goodling, the Christian conservative lawyer and Muckraker favorite who later would help keep the Bush Justice Department stocked with good Republicans.

Comstock herself also moved to the Bush DOJ, in 2001, to run the department's public affairs operation -- doggedly stiffing reporters as they sought information on the administration's aggressive tactics in the War on Terror.

After leaving Justice, Comstock spent some time helping then-GOP Majority Leader Tom Delay play defense on a host of ethics problems.

Next, Comstock helped run Scooter Libby's legal defense fund, formed to help Libby fight charges that he illegally leaked the name of CIA agent Valerie Plame for political purposes.

Great stuff, huh? And now Comstock poses a potential threat to one of our best, most progressive freshman delegates in Richmond - Margi Vanderhye. For more about Margi, click here. Even better, sign up to volunteer or donate to her campaign. Thanks.

P.S. Remember, Margi is in her first term, having won election in this purple district by only 3 points, 51%-48%, in 2007. No doubt, the national Republicans will be targeting this district for special attention in their effort to prevent Democrats from taking control of the Virginia House of Delegates. Our job is to stop them from succeeding.

UPDATE: Jane Hamsher has done some great opposition research on Comstock, who Hamsher calls an "evil harpie."