The GOP is Ready to Rumble
And they're off. The battle for political supremacy between the R's and the D's has begun and the GOP got it started early this morning with a small rally in Richmond at state party headquarters.
And who better to begin with a feisty opening shot across the bow for what will surely be a 150-day war of words than Kate Obenshain Griffin, the chairman of the Virginia GOP. This morning she presented to party loyalists the GOP's statewide victors--Jerry Kilgore, Sen. Bill Bolling and Del. Robert McDonnell, who stood shoulder to shoulder, wearing dark suits and broad smiles.
Here was Griffin's first pitch, a nice fat fastball, nothing but high heat:
"Virginians face more than just a choice between a Republican and a Democrat," she said with her characteristic sharp verbiage. "It's the difference between a principled conservative and a flip-flopping liberal extremist."
"Whooo!" a voice piped up from the back of the second floor room where about 100 loyalists clapped and cheered.
Sounds like the Republican line this year will be trying to pin 2005 Virginia Democrats to 2004 national Democrats (We've had hints of this, of course, for some time now).
Next up was the delivery from Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee and the leader of President Bush's re-election campaign last year, who tried to reaffirm the link between national and state Dems: "We're going to see this year, what we saw last year. An attempt at an election year makeover." He added that the Virginia's election offers "a choice between principled conservatism and tax-raising liberals running away from their record."
And then came Bolling for the final whack. He took aim at his direct competition, Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Leslie Byrne.
"I look forward to competing against my opponent, Ms. Byrne," Bolling said in his usual conversational style. "And I want to encourage her to invite the candidate for president that she championed in 2004, Howard Dean, to Virginia, to campaign by her side. We hope she does that."
And then they were gone. The GOP ticket will make stops in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia and Southside. Tomorrow, they travel to Roanoke and Southwest Virginia, among other stops.
The Dems hold their kick off rally on Saturday, when gubernatorial nominee Timothy M. Kaine will stand with Byrne and attorney general nominee Sen. Creigh Deeds (Bath).
By Chris Jenkins |
June 15, 2005; 12:23 PM ET
| Category:
Republicans
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Posted by: Ian | June 15, 2005 03:40 PM
Correction: Sorry Chris, that was for you.
Posted by: Ian | June 15, 2005 03:44 PM
Conservatives of principles? You got to be kidding me. What neocon program has helped the average American. You want to cut social security, and establish private acounts; (see 401k's and Enron)you still believe that Sadam had WMDs and Al-Queda connections; you want searches without warants; detentions without due process; judges who strictly adhere to the bible; religious institutions being financed with
tax-payer's money; States rights, unless you don't agree with the State's deision; wiretaps on every American who disagrees with you; a budget deficit in excess of $400 billion dollars, and that does not include the $200 billion you kept out of the budget; Just what have the new republicans of principles done for the average American? Well, absolutely nothing!
you people cannot hanle the truth. Conservatives of principles believed in pluraism, fiscal responsibility (33% increase in spending since Bush took office), paying for tax cuts, unlike your new policy, tax cuts and put it on the books hopefully no one will notice.
Bush was elected and inherited the largest surplus in our history, now that is history. Please tell me what the republicans have done for America, other than export our jobs, and make the rich richer.
Posted by: AJ | June 15, 2005 05:45 PM
I just LOVE the idea of "flip-flopping liberal extremist." How can one be characterized as liberal OR extremist if they're flip-flopping, which one assumes means that one is supporting whichever position is most advantageous to him or her - and in Virginia, "liberal" positions rarely are outside of Arlington and Alexandria.
Posted by: Rick | June 16, 2005 06:19 PM
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Mike,
Wow! Ali v. Frazier III will have nothing on this campaign cycle when it comes tough rhetoric and body blows.
The Republicans have been wearing boots and walking with a swagger since George Allen was Governor and they certainly are looking forward to the race with Ms. Byrne (It makes me wonder how bad it will be if H. Clinton does run).
However, it appears that Kaine has decided to not sit there like a heavy bag and take shots. He has been agressive and obnoxious, typically strong Republican traits, and while he is taking heat for it in some circles, he will find himself in the center of the ring, on equal footing with Kilgore post-Labor Day.
Byrne is no journey women. She will pull no punches, and Bolling might be laughing like a ring side promoter now, but a couple of Byrne jabs to the midsection will soften him up.
The undercard in this will be McDonnell and Deeds, two "nice guys" who might mix it up, but it will seem like sibling rivalry compared to the other bouts.
Good luck to you Mike. Come November you're going to look like the guy who has endured too many low blows.
Ding. Ding.