The amazing thing about Gray is that he denies completely knowing about the shadow campaign until this past January. Yet based on filed campaign reports a few weeks before the primary, it was clear that Fenty had significantly outraised Gray's campaign -- atl least based on official campaign filings. Gray logically might have been concerned about what they meant for his campaign resources, GOTV, etc. Yet then all these yard signs, shirts and materials showed up at campagin HQ and lots of poll workers were suddently hired. Did Gray think this was like the loaves and the fishes, that someone had worked miracles with limited resources?! Right. One City. Two Campaigns. Three to Five.

Another nail in Gray's political coffin

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mayor-grays-2010-campaign-had-database-of-public-housing-residents/2012/07/22/gJQAiumA3W_story.html

"Housing lawyers consulted by The Post said the use of such a list by a political campaign could violate a variety of laws and regulations, both federal and local, starting with the prohibition against using government resources for political purposes."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Gray is toast. If he doesn't resign now, he would be crazy to run for re-election.

Do NOT want Fenty back - unless he can bring with him documentation from experts that he has finally matured.

It's people like you that brought this scourge unto our city. Fenty didn't give a fuck about kissing babies and playing to the old guard and so he was booted. Even though he was a great mayor. We got the mayor we deserved.

Gray won't resign. This is DC you wait until you're indicted.

+1

"I am especially disappointed because Gray would have won anyway."

This is what perplexed so many about Watergate. Why did the Nixon forces bug the DNC in June '72? It was pretty obvious by then that Nixon's fall opponent would be McGovern, who was seen as a having limited support. Nixon went on to win in a landslide, but resigned less than 2 years later.

I am especially disappointed because Gray would have won anyway. Now I don't see how he could possibly win a second term, even if he doesn't resign/get indicted first.

I am not particularly impressed on unimpressed with Gray's leadership, and I have been enjoying the unremarkableness of his term until now.

What a waste.

I'm not happy with Gray, but I have a new gripe that really has me boiling: Jonetta Rose Barras says

If Gray doesn't step down, Congress should remove him. Voters shouldn't be required to mount a recall of someone who won an election by defrauding them.

(http://washingtonexaminer.com/barras-resignation-or-impeachment-choose-one/article/2502020). Home rule means nothing to her???

Anonymous wrote:

Apparently Gray didn't learn.

Washington Post: "Mayor Vincent C. Gray knew of campaign finance violations in January, sources say"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mayor-gray-this-is-not-the-campaign-we-intended-to-run/2012/07/11/gJQASDL6cW_story.html?hpid=z1

This story was updated to have the following added:

On Thursday, a person close to Gray confirmed the January meeting, saying the discussion marked the first time the mayor heard of a “shadow campaign.” During the meeting, the person said, Gray told Harris to submit her expenses immediately with the city’s Office of Campaign Finance to comply with the law.

Obviously, this account needs to be taken with a significant helping of salt, but if it is true it would help Gray a lot.