The next time your phone rings, don't be surprised if John McCain's on the line. And if you watch television for more than 10 minutes at a stretch, there's a good chance you'll see Barack Obama.
After decades in which Virginians were all but forgotten by presidential candidates, voters here are getting the kind of political attention typically reserved for voters in swing states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, campaign aides and analysts said this week.
And more of the same is on the way.
Unless polls show one ticket pulling away, the next eight weeks are likely to a see steady stream of personal appearances in Hampton Roads and across the state by the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees and their running mates, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., and Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, plus a fusillade of television ads, robo-calls, and e-mail and snail-mail appeals.
Local television ad purchases in Hampton Roads passed the $1 million mark before Labor Day, the traditional campaign kickoff time, according to records kept by local stations. That volume is unprecedented, said Cindi Dove, general sales manager at local CBS affiliate WTKR.
Biden was in Virginia Beach on Thursday. Palin, McCain's surprise choice for vice president, will visit the resort city on Sept. 18.
As the Republican National Convention ended Thursday, aides to the candidates also hinted at plans for additional visits later this month by both Obama and McCain.
"It's clear we've designated Virginia as a battleground state.... You're going to see a full-court press in every facet of this campaign," said Kevin Griffis, a spokesman for the Obama campaign.
Obama volunteers in Virginia knocked on 120,000 doors last weekend to distribute campaign literature, Griffis said, and hosted 1,000 parties to watch the candidate accept the Democratic nomination.
Republicans are busy, too. Along with Palin's planned trip to Virginia Beach, she is likely to show up repeatedly elsewhere around Hampton Roads and in the suburbs of both Richmond and Washington, said Gerry Scimeca, communications director for the state GOP.
In recent statewide races, Democrats have rolled up huge margins in the sprawling D.C. suburbs and have carried or run close to Republicans in
former GOP strongholds such as Virginia Beach. Scimeca said self- described hockey mom Palin's ability to combine family and career should help her appeal to thousands of suburban women doing the same thing.
Palin also will be used to rally Christian conservatives, a key constituency for the party in Virginia, said Mark Rozell, a political scientist at George Mason University in Fairfax.
Many of those voters have "absolutely no enthusiasm" for McCain, Rozell said. The Arizonan dismissed television evangelists, including broadcaster Pat Robertson of Virginia Beach, as "agents of intolerance" in 2000, but Palin seems to have energized them, Rozell added.
Palin's small-town background presents yet another challenge to Democrats in rural areas. Party leaders such as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, Sen. Jim Webb and Senate candidate Mark Warner have worked hard to make inroads, but Obama ran weakly in those areas during the state's presidential primary.
"We've got to be careful how we talk about her," said Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, a veteran Democratic strategist from southwest Virginia. Suggestions that Palin's experience as a small-town mayor hasn't prepared her for national office aren't likely to be well-received across the state's southside and southwest, he said.
Pilot writer Bill Sizemore contributed to this report.
Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872 dale.eisman@pilotonline.com
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palin needs better tutors
She's not doing very well in her rehearsed "knowledge" of political life in the real world, but she can see Russia from parts of Alasks. That's not a VP qualification.
Alaska
is the largest state, in land area, only. There are less residents in all of Alaska than in some American cities. We should, be concerned as to how other nations' people perceive the USA. We are despised, in many parts of the world, due to the superiority complex of too many of our citizens. Wars, are often started because of misinformation based on impressions nations have of one another.
HM
Let's not be ignorant. We know Chicago is a city not a state.
Wake up! Right wing Republicans will lose big time.
This headline (from AP) was inevitable
Given what a loser the actual republican nominee for president is:
McCain-Palin becoming Palin-McCain?
So now it's Obama versus Palin. The party is dumping old man McSame again
The choice gets even clearer.
We know she is Governor of a small state, not as big as Chicago?
Alaska is the LARGEST State in the United States, and Chicago is a CITY not a State. "...think about our relationships around the globe..." I guess some people stay awake nights worrying what people think of us in places such as North Korea, Zimbabwe, Rawanda, Somalia, Kenya, China, Russia, Sudan, Iran, Yemen and similar garden spots. I don't. I only know that since virtually everybody in the World is doing everything they can to get here--many die trying--that we remain the shining Nation on a hill despite all of our challenges and failures. And certainly in spite of those absorbed by the outright falsehoods of the left-wing blogosphere so repetitiously posted on PilotOnline.com.
Robo Calls - What you can do now
It is too bad that politicians continue to exempt themselves from Do Not Call law.
StopPoliticalCalls.org is fighting for the privacy of the American voter.
1 - Creating a Political Do Not Call Registry
2 - Testifying in the US Senate about robo calls (Sen. Feinstein’s Robocall Privacy Act)
3 - Forcing states to enforce existing robo call laws (CA, MN, NJ, etc..)
4 - Getting politicians to take a do not robo call pledge (7 have)
As I testified at the US. Senate these robo calls are an epidemic and this election cycle “phone spam” and are invading the privacy of All American Voters.
Our members are taking a stand and saying enough is enough at the National Political Do Not Contact Registry at StopPoliticalCalls.org.
Here is a quote from a member recently:
"I'm a shift worker, working variable shifts. I depend on my sleep to be able to do my job safely and efficiently. I'm a locomotive engineer. Ima
Palin is not the answer
McCain would have done better with Romney or Huckabee - not Palin. He definitely didn't need Joe Liberman. But does anyone have a problem with what we've witnessed with this mean spirited woman with her snide remarks? But beyond all that, does anyone have a problem with someone claiming to be on high moral ground and the kinds of things she has been involved in since she became Governor, only briefly, with abuse of power. Does anyone have a problem with subjecting your 17 year old daughter to the media glare and standing her up as an example of what a good christian family does? We all make mistakes, but I would have said no thank you at this time and put my daughter first to protect her. With teen pregancy at an all time high, Is this the example we want for our daughters? That it's okay for the V.President of the United states then it's okay for all of our children to get pregnant at 17 and pretend you are
first she has to be trained
Before they will let her talk to the press she has to be trained by the McCain camp to make sure she gets everything right. We wouldn't want her to make a liar out of McCain now would we?
I listened...
to Ms. Palin's speech a couple times and to all the clips they had of her and I tried to think of who she reminded me of? I remember working with several people like her and her type of personality; quick with a comeback or a snide remark. What looks like toughness is only a cover for not knowing the work. I know people like her and they are called smart asses. Her nomination is a personal insult to Hillary and her supporter's intelligence. If McCain really wanted to be a "maverick", bipartisan, and win the presidency he should have chosen Hillary for VP. Obama could never beat that combination.
Sara Palin
Sara "The Barracuda" Palin is on the loose. John McCain's campaign is sending her to the beaches of Virgina Beach to get votes. All you swimmers and surfer beware. Put up the warning signs. Think! Do you want the same policies that the the Republicans have put forth over the last eight years? Think about gas prices, tthink about food prices, think about the housing mess, think about the economy, think about your paycheck, think about our relationships around the globe, think about their plan, think about the middle class, think aout the poor, think about the wars we are in, think about No Child Left Behind, think about John McCain continuing the same old rhetoric. Just think about what they are trying to do to you. Just think!
Palin can't talk to media
What's with this? Palin is ready day one to be president should McCain
pass on as President, but can't talk or be interviewed alone with the media? Sounds fishy. CNN reported she has more people googling her name than any other candidate at any time. Well, it's obvious - no one knows anything about her and people are curious. We know she is Governor of a small state, not as big as Chicago, We know she tried to get her brother-in-law fired and then fired the Commissioner, and now we have Troopergate. What happens if she is found guilty. Can she serve as V. Pres? We know she does not allow sex education in schools, tried to ban certain books from the library, believes in abortion whether rape or incest is involved. We know that she talks a good game, but appears completely phony. Have you seen those pictures on You Tube with her holding bottles of whiskey in short mini skirts? Bathing suits and guns? We ha
The left & Democrats continue the "gang rape" of Sarah Palin...
...and her child daughter. This baseless assault is a throw-back to the 1950's as far as women's rights are concerned. The smears and lies won't work--like the bogus accusation she tried to ban books--the list includes books that weren't even published for two full years AFTER the supposed incident--no books were banned. It's funny how so many Democrats are terrified by a successful conservative woman Governor. The fear, loathing and desperation among them is almost palpable. These bogus, often inane attacks will fail.
Palin the Nazi
Palin tried to have books banned when she was mayor and tried to fire a librarian who stood up to her. She made all her city managers sign letters of resignation to "show their loyalty" to her. She is currently being investigated for abuse of power by the Alaska legislature. The prosecutor has audiotapes, emails, and multiple witnesses. She abused her power as mayor, she abused her power as governor, and she will abuse her power if she ever gets to Washington. Hopefully, she will be indicted on Oct. 31st and that will be the end of her.
If Palin is able to step in DAY ONE and run the country if
needed, why can't she even talk to the media DAY ONE? If she is so smug and CONFIDENT and talks so BIG, why can't she back it up? Its just said that some Republicans are so blind to the fact that they are getting played for a fool! If the Dems pulled such a stunt I would immediately agree that this is just a STUNT to pull in independent and women voters! But the smart ones will see beyond that. You don't have to like Barrack, Biden, or the Democrats as a whole but ANYBODY should see that this Palin pick was a desperate gimmick move!
Well then
And with this "no press" gag the McCain camp has on her, all there will be from her are soundbites from the campaign trail and the one speech she read from the teleprompter that was written by a former Bush speech writer.
Hmmmm..what does she have to hide? And don't dare anyone say it's because she doesn't want to be badgered about her pregnant daughter or special needs child. That in itself is the least of her problems.
Also they won't let her be
Also they won't let her be interviewed. What does that tell you. Mayor of Podunck isn't ready for the "prime time".
Based on A Speech
Its sad how anyone, including McCain can think Palin is ready to be vice President.He met her only once. 37 million people heard her give a speech that was written by the campaign and one that kept her up all night to reherse. It shows how much people really care about this country.