Rep. Wittman cruises to first full House term: 'full plate' Wittman plans to focus on the economy, energy policy and health care.

Hugh Lessig

Nov. 5, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- NEWPORT NEWS -- Freshman Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, easily defeated Democratic challenger Bill Day on Tuesday to earn his first full two-year term in the 1st Congressional District.

With 59 of 218 precincts reporting, Wittman had nearly 60 percent of the vote, compared to about 38 percent for Day. Libertarian candidate Nathan Larson finished a distant third.

Wittman, a former member of the House of Delegates, won a special election in December to fill the unexpired term of Jo Ann Davis, who died of cancer. He is a former county supervisor and worked as a field director for the Virginia Health Department's Division of Shellfish Sanitation.

Although this was a tough year for Republicans across the nation, the 1st District has traditionally favored the GOP. Wittman, with deep roots in the Northern Neck, was able to keep it in the fold.

"We have a full plate ahead," he said in a telephone interview. "But there are things that need to be done."

Wittman said he intends to concentrate on the economy, energy policy, health care and cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay during the next two years.

He said he hopes his solid victory indicates that voters appreciate his bipartisan approach to politics.

The district stretches from the Peninsula to Fauquier County.

Wittman campaigned as a fiscal conservative. He questioned the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, preferring a plan with less taxpayer risk and more private-sector involvement.

Day was making his second run for public office. Last year, he challenged Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William, and lost that race by a margin of 55 percent to 44 percent.

Day is a resident of Warrenton in the northern end of the district and holds an MBA from Harvard University. He touted his business experience, vowing to promote alternative energy (OOTC:AEGC) and ending tax breaks for the oil and gas industries.

Day sought a different approach to health care, preferring a single-payer system that he said would allow more people to seek preventive care and early screenings for disease, which would reduce costs in the long run.

Larson -- true to his Libertarian, small-government philosophy -- favored abolishing Medicare and getting government out of the health care business. He also opposed the Wall Street bailout, arguing that capitalism works only when bad firms are allowed to fail, because capital then flows to the competent companies that are good stewards of their money.

Partial results

Rob Wittman (R)

186,191 (59%)

Bill Day (D)

129,755 (40%)

Nathan Larson (L)

4,656 (1.5%)

Results unofficial

Newstex ID: KRTB-0140-29256416