Hamilton falls to Democrat Abbott in NN

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Outside Red Star Tavern in Newport News tons of Robin Abbott campaign signs could be seen. Inside were just as many Robin Abbott supporters, all thrilled that the challenger in the 93rd District race was victorious.

Abbott, a consumer rights lawyer, was the first to challenge Delegate Phil Hamilton in close to 15 years. Hamilton served two decades in the General Assembly, representing Newport News and parts of James City County.

As he conceded, he said, "We're able to take slings and arrows that come our way, but it's our families that sacrifice the most."

Hamilton was perhaps referring to the ODU scandal: a federal investigation and House ethics inquiry after Hamilton secured a half million dollars for a teaching center at ODU, then secured himself a $40,000 a year job.

"It certainly had an impact, there's no doubt it had an impact on this race, to what degree it's difficult to tell," said Abbott.

"We ran the kind of campaign that we wanted, it was positive, focused on issues and who knows, I don't know what it was that caused the voters to turn one way or another, but we knew the demographics for the district were not positive for a Republican," said Hamilton.

In fact, GOP insiders say they realized the district was in jeopardy during in November 2008.

Newport News Delegate Glen Oder told WAVY.com Wednesday, "In the previous presidential election, it was a 37 percent Republican district. We knew all along it was going to be a difficult seat to hold on to."

The Republican Oder easily won re-election in the 94th District, which is adjacent to the 93rd. There are lingering questions that Hamilton might have lost his district earlier had a Democrat challenged him.

Abbott  said she's prepared to seize her opportunity. "All I wanted to do was give the people of this district a choice they had not had for a very long time. I never doubted my ability for the job, but I wanted the people to have a choice," said Abbott.