WP: Bush Plans 11th-Hr Rally in Va. For Kilgore (Kaine:will motivate Dems)

[DeepModem Mom]

Bush Plans 11th-Hour Rally in Va. For Kilgore
Kaine Says Appearance Will Motivate Democrats

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 5, 2005; Page B01


RICHMOND, Nov. 4 -- The White House announced Friday that President Bush will hold an election-eve rally for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore (R) here Monday night, which Republicans hope will give him a final boost in his battle with Democrat Timothy M. Kaine.

"This is nothing short of a huge coup to have the president come in right before the election," said Frank Atkinson, a Republican consultant and a senior adviser to Kilgore's campaign.

Democrats said they were surprised by the move and believe it will help Kaine by giving people who are dissatisfied with Bush a reason to vote against Kilgore. The president's popularity has declined sharply in Virginia since last November, when he defeated Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), 54 percent to 45 percent, in the state.

"If I were those guys, the last thing I'd want to do is nationalize this election," Kaine said in an interview. "It's sure going to juice up our people."

Last week, Kilgore did not attend a Bush speech in Norfolk on terrorism, a move that was widely viewed as a snub. Democratic Party Chairman C. Richard Cranwell said, "They are still hiding the president. He's going to sneak into Richmond in the dark of night?"...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/04/AR2005110400634.html

[wakeme2008]

1. Note from the ads I have seen in Va.

The Richmond newspaper is the ONLY major paper supporting Kilgore. Every other paper supports Kaine... :)

[madame defarge]

2. We need to help Kilgore...

Pass it on that Kilgore is Bush's buddy! :evilgrin:

Blogswarm time!

(kicked & recommended)

[gardenista]

3. Hmmm... I wonder what Kilgore thinks about that "help"!

He probably can't say, "Um, Mr. Pretzledint, would you please stay away and not spread your cooties on me?"

[MidwestTransplant]

4. That's why it is late at night right before the election.

Won't get any media coverage.

[A Simple Game]

5. It'll get the media attention

right after the "miraculous odds defying" swing in votes resulting in yet another Republican victory that is attributed to *'s speech.

[BillZBubb]

7. Good point. The fix must be in.

This is the first step in Bush's political "comeback".

[KittyWampus]

8. Good Lord, That's What I Think. Does Virginia Use Electronic Voting?

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

14. I'm in Richmond, and they just switched during the primaries

to E-voting, unfortunately.

[thecrow]

15. Yes. We do.

There are some districts that still have the old fashioned lever machines, but I heard it from our county's assistant District attorney that by 2006 all machines will be computer based.
I was horrified, and she asked why are you horrified?

We were at the time campaigning for Kerry.

[struggle4progress]

11. !

[Straight Shooter]

6. Virginia is for lovers ... not dividers. n/t

[Maggie_May]

9. Let him go

Somebody who's in the area please ask him why he is cutting all major funding for the poor and giving tax breaks to all his buddies. I would just love him to come to my state. They need to stage a huge protest!!!!

[cliss]

10. Wait.....there's something very strange here.....

Kilgore did not attend a Bush speech in Norfolk. This was seen as a snub.

But Bush is going to appear at a fund-raiser to drum up support for Kilgore. This makes no sense. Does Kilgore even WANT the Bushman to help him out? I wonder. This is definitely not his style: to get crapped on, and then come back and do a favor? Not on your life.

Just WHOSE support are we looking at here? Maybe Bush?

[struggle4progress]

12. See post #4. Kilgore's afraid being seen with W will hurt his chances.

But wide awareness of that fact makes the White House look bad to the dwindling number of numbskulls who haven't yet noticed the general stench wafting out of 1600 Pennsylvania. So W wants to communicate there's no problem and therefore will go to Virginia. But there really IS a problem, and Kilgore is NOT eager to embrace him. Still, W is the Prez, so Kilgore can't just say no. Compromise: W drops by immediately before voting begins, maybe enough to rally the R base a bit, but without the media exposure (and further poll damage) that an earlier visit would garner ...

[countingbluecars]

13. You may be right.

I received Kilgore's latest brochure in the mail today. There is a picture of Bush with Kilgore on the cover. Inside, lo and behold, another big picture of Bush. I had to laugh when I saw in small print, "This advertisement is intended to benefit Jerry Kilgore." Could have fooled me.

[rainy]

16. It's a ploy to make it look like Kilgore got a bump right before

the election so when they steal the votes again they can say Kilgore won because of the last minute Bush push.