Posted on 11/10/2005 4:02:20 AM PST by johnny7
RICHMOND -- President Bush's sinking popularity helped seal Democrat Timothy M. Kaine's victory in Virginia's gubernatorial election Tuesday, politicians and pollsters said yesterday. "We know that George Bush is just killing us," said Delegate David B. Albo, a Republican who narrowly defeated his Democratic challenger in Fairfax County. "His popularity just brought the ticket down. There's no other way to explain it."
Mr. Kaine, the current lieutenant governor, defeated Republican Jerry W. Kilgore by six percentage points in a contest that had been a statistical dead heat in the days before the election.
(Excerpt) Read more at insider.washingtontimes.com ...
It was a dumb move for Bush to campaign at the last minute for Kilgore. Second term presidents usually aren't helpful in elections not their own. Running commercials about the death penalty shows that the guy didn't have a clue as to what people cared about.
USELESS
The fact that Kilgore sounded an awful lot like Gomer Pyle on his ads didn't help much with those Virginians that didn't know much about him.
"Kilgores cartoon ads"
Speaking of that I heard an interesting stat this morning on the news. The 18-24 crowd came out in much greater numbers on this race than they did in 2001. Cartoons work maybe? lol
Bush carried the state before, in 2000, by seven percent over Gore. But Virginia elected Mark Warner the Democrat as Governor, after Bush had an 80% approval rating following 9-11.
Since 1973, Virginia has had a Governor from the opposite party of whomever was President. During the Clinton years, they had Republican Governors. During Reagan and Bush I, they had Democrat Governors. During Nixon, Democrat, during Carter, Republican. A set pattern.
Nobody claimed it was a ringing endorsement of anything to barely eak in an Attorney General. So, I'm sure everyone can agree on THAT statement of yours, that it was not a ringing endorsement. LOL It is, however, a stubborn fact that the other Republican candidates did considerably better than Kilgore. Which does say something about Kilgore.
But if Kilgore HAD won, he would have been the first VA Governor since the 70's to be of the same Party in power in the the White House. Too bad he wasn't a better candidate and campaigner...HE COULD HAVE MADE HISTORY!!
What a total crock. VA has always leaned toward the Socialist/Liberals because it is such a HUGE WELFARE state.
maybe hes been brainwashed into thinking if you only "narrowly defeat", that isn't really winning.
Lost one in the legislature, but retain a large majority. Won AG and Lt. Governor's seats.
LLS
Pray for W and Our Troops
If this is true than the people in Virginia are major league ash holes. Voting rat or not voting because they don't like Bush is stupid, but then again there is never any shortage of stupid people in this world.
Voter turnout in Virginia governor’s race is low, PilotOnline.com
...Larry J. Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, said reasons for the poor turnout go beyond the campaign’s negative tone. Neither candidate put forth a central issue that galvanized voters,...
Democrats have gained no real advantage by using this strategy. They will regain neither the White House nor Congress this way.
Bush needs to sharpen his message and can still do some things to restore a positive vision for the country. That is what matters. Responding to personal attacks with personal attacks, or attempting to beat back the MSM's army of deceit lie by lie, is a waste of time and just plays into the Democrats' hand.
Hey Cristina BULLSHIT.
No, either Kilgore sank you, or you almost sank yourself. State elections, state issues.
And Democrats are completely unable to capitalize on it.
Democrats are in bigger trouble.
Kilgore’s extremely negative campaign did turn off a lot of people – particularly the young. If he hadn’t been running against Kaine I would not have voted for him just because of the ads.
"I don't exactly see how that's any of your business, but you seem to require some sort of credential assuring you that one is sufficiently "Virginian" in order to state one's opinion."
I didn't say that. Gee. I was going along with your 'mysterious Phantom' persona and get my head bitten off.
"It's a bit early in the day to already be acting like a condescending fool."
I agree. Got a mirror?
Somehow the argument "Well, they're worse!" doesn't excite me.
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