Folks, it's good to see Big Bill lend a big helping hand to the Virginia governors race. This time around, I think it's clear that the Democratic party realizes the importance and national implications of this race in terms of building momentum for next year's mid-term elections, and gauging the Republican base support for Bush.
Fellow Democrats like Wes Clark, Barack Obama, Joe Lieberman (and next week Gov Jennifer Granholm) have all raised funds and campaigned on behalf of Tim Kaine here in Virginia.
Good money raised
today:
Bill Arrives
What if Bill Clinton came to Virginia and nobody knew it. Would it make a difference?
Ask the Tim Kaine campaign that question and the answer will be "yes!"
Clinton held two very-high-dollar fundraisers for Kaine today, hosting small groups of rich people in Charlottesville and McLean. The dollar amounts are not known, but some of the guests paid as much as $50,000 for a private reception with the ex-president.
Kaine officials said they raised $1.5 million from the pair of presidential fundraisers. And they said they would have had a public event with Clinton if the former president's schedule permitted.
It did not, they said.
Jerry Kilgore aides have scoffed at the Clinton visit. "Bill Clinton is a nationally recognized liberal figure. Tim Kaine is proud to stand next to him. We appreciate the help," Kilgore spokesman Tucker Martin said when Clinton's visit was announced.
Notice how Kilgore throws around the old and worn "liberal" label. That's what the swift-boaters do when they have no positive agenda or record to talk about.
*****ACTION*****
What will determine the outcome of this race more than money is turnout, simple as that. We need a superb mobilization and get out the vote effort. Already, the Republican National Committee has employed 3000+ volunteers to carry out an Ohio-style phone banking effort three days before the election.
The Kaine campaign and the Virginia Democratic Party urgently need volunteers to muster a counter attack or we risk losing this race. So if you live in Virginia or in the neighboring states, please get involved. Volunteer with the Kaine campaign, sign up friends, call your family members in Virginia or elsewhere to get the ball rolling for GOTV efforts. Especially for out-of-staters, come volunteer the weekend before Nov 8. It made a huge difference in closing the gap for Paul Hackett in his Ohio race.
Join the 2005 Kaine victory team! Thanks.
http://www.kaine2005.org/
http://www.vademocrats.org/