Just got back from an exciting and energized rally in Christiansburg, VA to support our Democratic candidates. Jim Webb, Rick Boucher (the incumbent in VA-09) both spoke briefly to the crowd, as did former Governor Mark Warner, and current governor Tim Kaine. Dennis Nagel, the candidate for Commonwealth's Attorney, was present but did not speak.
Several media outlets were there; I was able to identify personnel from CNN and our local CBS affiliate, WDBJ. I'm disappointed that WDBJ took Jim Webb's one negative line from the day and made it the focus of their story. His speech was overwhelmingly positive -- some highlights after the flip:
- Webb praised the work of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and singled out the successful efforts Mark Warner made to reach across the aisle to balance Virginia's budget. Virginians have seen first-hand how well Democrats govern, he says, and credits Warner and Kaine for helping to turn Virginia blue.
- Webb highlighted his position on taxes -- that contrary to claims made in attack ads against him -- he has never favored raising taxes on wage-earners.
- He also rebutted the attack ads' claim that he favors amnesty for illegal immigrants. He favors a fair and sane immigration policy, but has not come out in favor of granting amnesty to people who have already entered the country illegally.
- An NRA direct mail piece endorsed Allen's position on guns without mentioning Webb at all, even though Webb has been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment.
- John Thune is campaining with George Allen this weekend -- they shared the same campaign manager, who was behind the unbelievably nasty attacks againt Tom Daschle in 2004. Allen, he says, is running negative ads instead of positive ones, because he has no positive record to promote.
- Never before in recent memory has it been as important to turn the course of the nation around as it is today. Webb singled out for criticism the Bush administration's decision to post captured Iraqi documents on the web that provide instructions on how to construct nuclear weapons.
- Webb's election day plans: vote early in the morning, thank his staff, and go have a beer. (I suspect he'll work much harder on election day than he claims he will!)