Rep. Rick Boucher Endorsing Barack Obama Today

Cross posted on Raising Kaine

Another day, another big endorsement for Barack Obama here in Virginia.  Tim Kaine...Bobby Scott...Doug Wilder...Don Beyer...now Rep. Rick Boucher (D-9th) (according to Tim Craig of the Washington Post):

The 9th congressional district spans all or part of 22 counties, including heavily-unionized areas near the Kentucky border and Republican-leaning communities in southern Virginia.

Until now, it was widely believed that Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards had an advantage in Southwest Virginia because he has been endorsed by the United Mine Workers of America.

But Boucher is the latest in a series of elected officials in Virginia to get behind Obama's candidacy.

Excellent news, thanks to Rick Boucher for this endorsement!

P.S. C'mon Senator Webb, you know you want to endorse Barack Obama for President. :)

P.P.S.  In other news, Gov. Kaine had some interesting comments about Barack Obama, who Kaine strongly backs, on CNN's late edition.  Among other things, Kaine said, "I feel like Barack can change the game for our country and for our party. And I think he's the candidate who is the most likely to win in November."  Kaine added:

[Obama] has a great capacity to pull in voters of all kinds, all ages, people who are rock-solid regular participants, people who are brand new, people who are hard- core Democrats, people who are independents and disillusioned Republicans.

On the Ronald Reagan ginned-up "controversy," Gov. Kaine said:

I think Democrats, you know, we didn't like an awful lot of what Ronald Reagan did, but we do understand, most of us, that one thing he was good at was communicating to the American people a message of hope and uplift at a time where we were in a period of, kind of, gridlock and malaise.

[...]

And we all -- you know, everybody called Reagan "the great communicator," whether they were Rs or Ds. Again, whether you didn't like what he did, that was one thing, but he had a way of capturing that spirit of optimism and pride in America.

And we want to feel good again. I think, after the last few years, we want to feel good again.

Finally, Gov. Kaine denied that he was interested in being Barack Obama's running mate.  Suuuuure you aren't, Governor.  :)

•  Now, if only Jim Webb and Mark Warner

  would join Kaine, Boucher and Bobby Scott and Doug Wilder (and former Lt. Gov. Don Beyer), Virginia would be solid Obama territory.

  by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 04:41:49 AM PDT

  •  How do the Clintons fare in VA?

    Historically and today... I honestly don't know much about their connections/influence in Virginia.

    Another exciting endorsement! I'm counting the days until Webb and Warner hop on board!

    by GirlZero on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:14:27 AM PDT

    •  According to my unofficial gas station

      and grocery store poll, not very well. Far SW part of the state. She/they may do better in NOVA.

      by emmasnacker on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:34:17 AM PDT

  •  You know,

    I wonder that if Hillary did'nt have Hispanic votes. Would she have won Nevada? It looks like America do believe in Obama with all his endorsements. This is showing that she is relying on Hispanic votes to win this election.

    by christine20 on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:27:42 AM PDT

•  Kaine a man of principle

  I don't think for one minute the Governor is playing politics and trying to get on the ticket.

  Brad henry would be a good VP pick

  by glennmid on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 04:44:17 AM PDT

  •  Ooh, Henry -- ok, I like that pick a LOT! nt

    by CPDem81 on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 04:56:39 AM PDT

•  Reagan "talked" to Tip O'Neill, that is what

  has been absent since 1990.

  by Theghostofkarlafayetucker on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 04:46:46 AM PDT

•  Shook hands with Gov. Kaine as well as Rep. Scott

  along with Obama at an Obama fundraiser in at an art gallery in Richmond this past April.

  I was very impressed with both as speakers and advocates for the Senator.

  Great news about Rep. Boucher.

  What are the prospects for an Obama victory in VA, presuming the delegate counts remain close after 2/5?

  by CPDem81 on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 04:55:32 AM PDT

  •  I think it depends how things go on 2/5

    But if Obama does well on Tsunami Tuesday, I think he's got a great shot at winning Virginia.  Still, don't underestimate Hillary's chances in places like NOVA (where she has her HQ, in Arlington) and possibly among African Americans (although polls indicate strong movement towards Barack Obama there).  The big question is, will Virginia's primary on 2/12 matter?  A few weeks ago, it didn't look like it, but today, it's appearing more and more likely.

    by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:00:45 AM PDT

    •  Pretty sure it will...

      My brother says everyone he knows in California (he's north of LA) is happily in Obama's camp. He's got Illinois in the bag, and his Midwest presence is strong enough that he'll fare well in Minnesota and Missouri... Southern Super Tuesday states will probably go similarly to how S.C. goes, and I wouldn't discount his chances in New Jersey, either. Sure, Clinton's the NY Senator, but be assured, New Jerseyans aren't influenced by New Yorkers, they're pretty independent.

      My best friend is married to an Iron Worker's Union member in NJ, and he and all his colleagues are leaning Obama. What's even better is he appeals to many NJ Independent voters.

      This thing may go all the way to convention, but I'm a lot more confident of Obama's chances on Super Tuesday now that he's won a primary and kept within small margins of the victor in the other two.

      by GirlZero on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:19:00 AM PDT

      •  The key is California, and the key

        to California is Latinos.  That's where we all should be focusing, on persuading Latinos that with Obama, "si, se puede!"

        by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:23:06 AM PDT

      •  I'm originally from California

        and I'm an Obama supporter, but I'm kind of doubtful he can pull off a win there.  But he can pull close in delegate count, by showing more strength in rural areas and statewide, just like in Nevada, since most of the delegates are awarded by cogressional district.

        by psericks on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 11:07:09 AM PDT

•  a lot of Red State Dems

  know that this primary race is just as important as the general election for their own political lives. The 50% of Dems who still drink the Clinton Kool-Aid are a shrinking minority, and those of us with memories haven't forgotten how Bill's improprieties and McAuliffe's willful incompetence led to a decade of Republican dominance.

  by Stroszek on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:00:21 AM PDT

  •  NAFTA is a big factor in rural areas

    Due in large part to NAFTA, rural areas did not experience the economic boom of the nineties (in my area, for example, the logging industry lost out big time to Canada), and there is no love lost for the Clintons. If you ask anyone in my part of the world what they remember of Bill Clinton, you hear three things: I did not inhale, I did not have sexual relations with that woman, and NAFTA.

    by beltane on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:25:23 AM PDT

  •  Going on record to survive an HRC nomination.

    I suspect that a red state dem can't distance themselves from HRC far enough.  Anecdotal reporting is that downticket dems in purple areas are scared.

    by Inland on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 07:16:32 AM PDT

•  "No False Hopes"

  by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:05:49 AM PDT

  •  Thanks for this!!!

    I love how seamlessly he blends charisma and sense of humor. Hillary Clinton, take note: you just can't fake personality!

    by GirlZero on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:21:06 AM PDT

•  "Not Just One Voice"

  by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:06:12 AM PDT

•  What a great news. Va gets it. With the Clintons

  trust but verify as we all saw in Good Morning America today.

  by ameri on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:29:48 AM PDT

•  RaisingKaine.com

  is one of the few locally focused blogs that seems to have truly made a difference - many differences (even if the scope has expanded of late).  I think it ranks among the best examples of blogs mattering.  Governor Kaine ain't afraid of the purist either - good on him.  

  Here's to speaking (and writing) the truth.

  by huckleberry on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:49:59 AM PDT

  •  Thanks.

    We try! :)

    by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:55:42 AM PDT

    •  Thank YOU

      The night of Webb's victory was one of the sweetest in my political lifetime.  I won't bore you with more platitudes, but know that for some of us too busy, tired, or uninspired to put forth the efforts (caveat: money was contributed), the work you're doing is nourishing, and celebrated.

      I suppose that's enough gushing for now.  Heh.  Embarassed myself.  Keep up the good work.

      by huckleberry on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:01:55 AM PDT

      •  Webb's victory over Allen is a moment

        worth remembering.  Thanks to my friend Eric Byler, currently working on United for Obama, for putting this video together.  It still brings tears to my eyes.

        by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:05:55 AM PDT

•  Mayor of Baltimore too

  http://www.examiner.com/...

  by VirginiaDem on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:14:47 AM PDT

•  Hillary's Virginia Endorsements

  VIRGINIA
  State Senator Mamie Locke,
  State Senator Louise Lucas
  State Delegate Al Eisenberg
  State Delegate Lionell Spruill, Sr.
  State Delegate Johnny Joannou
  State Delegates Adam Ebbin
  State Jennifer McClellan
  Mayor of Portsmouth James Holley

  Plus today she got the wonderful Progressive and Environmentalist Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor!!

  by Norwegian Chef on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:38:14 AM PDT

  •  Obama's Virginia Endorsements

    Gov. Tim Kaine
    Former Gov. Doug Wilder
    Former Lt. Gov. Don Beyer
    Rep. Rick Boucher
    Rep. Bobby Scott
    Del. Bob Brink
    Del. David Englin
    Mayor Bill Euille (Alexandria)

    and many, many others.

    by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 07:07:59 AM PDT

    •  No Portsmouth mayors? nt

      by Inland on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 07:17:06 AM PDT

      •  I don't have a complete list for the state.

        I've got a long list of NOVA endorsements, plus Rep.'s Scott and Boucher, Gov. Kaine, etc.

        by lowkell on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 07:22:12 AM PDT