Candidate Ratings And Endorsements Now Available
The 2010 elections are less than five weeks away, and NRA members will be deciding thousands of races. The NRA-Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF -- NRA's Political Action Committee) has redesigned its website, www.NRAPVF.org, to make it more user-friendly and to provide you with the critical information you'll need to make informed decisions on Election Day, November 2nd. New information on the site includes the 2010 candidate grades and endorsements, which were released today. These ratings and endorsements will also appear in the November issue of your NRA magazine (November issue should arrive by mid-October).
With release of the grades and endorsements today at www.NRAPVF.org, here once again is additional information on how our grades and endorsements are issued.
NRA is non-partisan in issuing its candidate grades and endorsements. We base our political decisions solely on gun-related issues, as we are a single-issue organization. By not taking into account political party affiliation and/or non-gun-related issues, we ensure we do not divide our base of support that is united in its support for the Second Amendment.
We have an incumbent-friendly policy that dictates our support for pro-gun incumbents seeking reelection over pro-gun challengers, as voting records trump statements in support of the Second Amendment. We stand with our friends who stand with us in Congress or the state legislature. We would lose all credibility if we abandoned our friends who have stood by us. Of course, should a pro-gun challenger win his election, then he will be the beneficiary of this policy when he seeks re-election.
For candidates who are not incumbents, or who have not previously held elective office, we review answers to NRA's candidate questionnaires. NRA staff also interviews candidates, reviews campaign literature and candidate statements, and factors in intelligence from local NRA members.
All of this information is then reviewed and a grade of A to F is issued. Endorsements are not given in every race, as in addition to a candidate's positions on gun-related issues, NRA staff also has to take into account other factors like a candidate's viability and campaign organization. Our endorsement is not given lightly; it is something that is reserved for those candidates who meet certain criteria and thresholds. It must be earned.
Our endorsements are recommendations only. We understand and respect that voters will decide for themselves how important non-gun-related issues are, and on which issues they will base their final voting decisions. Our job is to provide the clearest information possible on a candidate's stance on Second Amendment-related issues and to encourage our members and supporters to "Vote Freedom First!" on Election Day.
For more information on NRA-PVF's endorsement and grading policies, please click here and here for articles featuring NRA-ILA Executive Director and Chairman of NRA's Political Victory Fund, Chris W. Cox.
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