The campaign manager for Dave Brat subtly accused House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of a tactless concession speech, saying the Virginian incumbent didn’t even bother to give a cursory nod of congratulations after the newcomer’s major upset in Tuesday night’s primary.
Mr. Cantor reportedly not only failed to wish his opponent well during his concession speech, but omitted Mr. Brat’s name altogether.
Mr. Cantor also didn’t provide Mr. Brat with any words of encouragement in his looming November face-off against his Democrat contender, said Mr. Brat’s campaign manager, Zach Werrell.
“Cantor’s concession speech did not mention Dave once,” Mr. Werrell told Breitbart News.
Mr. Cantor’s concession consisted of a single brief phrase: “Obviously we came up short.” The remainder of his speech was spent thanking family, friends and aides, and opining on research and charter schools, two of his key political causes
Mr. Brat, a relative unknown, stunningly won by roughly 10 percentage points, a defeat even more surprising considering that he only spent about $120,000 of $300,000 or so raised. Mr. Cantor, by comparison, spent about $5 million of $5.5 million raised.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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