NEWPORT NEWS
On his final visit to Hampton Roads before Tuesday's election, Republican presidential nominee John McCain painted himself as the scrappy underdog and stressed Virginia's importance as a key swing state for his campaign.
"Let me state the obvious: We need to win Virginia on the 4th," he told a crowd gathered Saturday morning outside Christopher Newport University's David Student Union. "We've been a couple points down, but we're coming back, and we're coming back in Virginia."
In a half-hour speech before more than a thousand people - mostly young families and students - the Arizona senator spoke mainly of his plans to improve the economy, which he described as being in a "ditch."
"I'm going to make sure we take care of the working people," he said, contrasting his proposals with those of the Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama. "He thinks taxes have been too low, and I think spending has been too high."
In Newport News and at a midday stop in Springfield, a Washington suburb, both McCain and his wife, Cindy, spoke of their military ties. Other speakers at both rallies reminded supporters of McCain's military background as a Vietnam War-era Navy pilot and prisoner of war.
"Between the McCains and Palins, we have three fine men serving active duty," Cindy McCain said, referring to two of McCain's sons and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's son Track.
Later on, John McCain asked all veterans to raise their hands. "I will never let you down, my friends," he said.
"I will bring our troops home with victory and honor," he said later, eliciting a huge cheer and flurry of blue pompoms from the crowd.
The festive, red-speckled audience held hundreds of "Country First" signs. Others, like Rebekah Mundy, brought their own homemade ones.
"Read My Lipstick. Vote McCain-Palin," read the sign toted by the 25-year-old Virginia Beach preschool teacher who wore a red jacket and red peep-toed heels.
Mundy said she was voting for McCain because of his stances on abortion, taxes and the war in Iraq.
Landon Dangerfield, an 11-year-old from Newport News, wore a sandwich board pieced together with two McCain "Country First" signs and stickers for U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gilmore.
"They're voting for McCain, obviously," Landon said of his parents, who arrived around 6 a.m. "So I'm going along with it."
"He would prefer to cut taxes so they're not big," Landon said of the presidential hopeful. "He wants people to do things on their own instead of taking from the rich and giving to the poor. He has more years in the Senate compared to Obama."
McCain has painted Obama as an inexperienced liberal, one with wrongheaded policies on taxes and the war.
"Senator Obama is running to be redistributionist in chief," he said Saturday. "I'm running to be commander in chief."
Both Virginia events highlighted the challenge McCain faces in the Old Dominion, which has supported GOP candidates in 10 consecutive presidential runs but now - according to a variety of polls - leans to Obama.
Reena Del Rossi, a Prince William County resident at the Springfield rally, acknowledged that McCain's task is especially daunting in Northern Virginia, the state's most populous region. A slumping economy that has led to thousands of home foreclosures, plus a large influx of immigrants, has combined to shift once reliably Republican neighborhoods to the Democrats, she said.
Despite beautiful, mild weather, McCain's crowd in Springfield filled only about half of a sprawling parking lot that had been cleared for the event. And as supporters filed out after the event, hawkers had marked $20 "McCain-Palin"
T-shirts down to $5.
With three days left before the election, McCain exhorted the crowd at both stops to volunteer to get out the vote and get others to the polls, saying their work is necessary to deliver Virginia to the Republicans.
"America's worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here," he said. "Don't give up hope - be strong - have courage and fight."
"If I - when I'm - elected president," he began before the crowd erupted in applause.
"Only 72 hours," a supporter shouted, and hundreds began chanting, "John McCain! John McCain!"
At the back of the crowd, a woman toted a baby dressed as an elephant, the Republican party symbol.
But not everyone came in support of McCain. Eric Hartwig, a Christopher Newport University student, held a sign that said, "Obama is not a socialist." Another carried one that said, "Time for Change. No More Lies."
Before the rally began, one McCain supporter shouted: "You people are fools! Foolish Americans!"
McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, appeared at rallies in Florida and North Carolina on Saturday before heading to an event near Richmond. After leaving Virginia, McCain went to Pennsylvania. He also was to appear on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."
Obama campaigned Saturday in Nevada, Colorado and Missouri. His running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, was in Indiana and Ohio.
Meghan Hoyer, (757) 446-2293, meghan.hoyer@pilotonline.com
Kristin Davis, (757) 222-5208, kristin.davis@pilotonline.com
Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com
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rjs...
If you espouse redistribution of wealth that makes you marxist/socialist, not because she doesn't agree with you. It's because that's what you are. What's the matter? Don't like it when someone calls your philosophy out? My Dad, his twin brother, both my grandfathers, my step grandfather and myself are all veterans. Socialism is un-American. It is a bad ideology that has failed the world over. Why incorporate it here? So even more lazy people can collect a government check and add nothing to society?
Keep the dream alive
General Powell said during a real Republican Convention:
Our vision, first and foremost, rests on values. Values because values are the conscience of a society. Values which must be lived, not just preached. Children learn values by watching their parents in their homes. And values, values fuel families. Families that then have the strength to withstand the assaults of contemporary life -- to resist the images of violence and vulgarity that flood into our lives every day. That's why we Republicans believe that the family, fueled by values, must be restored to the central place in American life if we are to keep the dream alive.
Gov. Palin, you as a grown adult came to Virginia to call me, a retired Veteran, a socialist and anti-American because I do not agree with you. That's not a Republican value, nor is it an American value.
Gasp Gasp
wheeze wheeze wheez........glu glug.......Dont worry GOP, tomorrow we pull the plug on your epic failures and let your campaign die with dignity.
BHO traveled the states
Barack Hussein Obama, don't forget, has traveled to "all 57 states with only one more to go." Obviously he was talking about the Muslim states, because we all know the USA only has 50.
The ONE + The TWO = The THREE = USSA
DUH UH AM
Maybe you didn't notice but Ayers did a little more than plot his bombings! Good grief! LOL! I am laughing at you and gertz!
The Choice Is Yours Hampton Roads
“The gap between rich and poor is getting bigger in the world's richest countries - and particularly the United States - as top earners' incomes soar while others' stagnate, according to a 30-nation report released Tuesday.” - AP
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/21/business/main4535488.shtml?source=RSSattr=Business_4535488
No doubt about it. What the Bush years have done for America, a John McSame presidency can do too. Tomorrow you can vote for McSame’s policy of No Millionaire Left Behind or for Obama’s No American Left Behind. The choice is yours.
For Gertz
Your quote “It doesn't matter to McCain supporters the lies and exaggeration they continue about Senator Obama, and all it shows is their desperation.”
You talk about lies and exaggerations? Let’s talk about the sweet deal Obama got from Rezco on real estate. Let’s talk about Obama and the radical Rev. Wright and Obama’s’ lack of knowledge that he was preaching for 20 years of white American destruction. What about people like Lewis Farrakhan (a radical Muslim) saying his people are the ones who are going to lead in “Universal Change” another commrade of Obama’s calling him the missaih. Least not forgot his association with the terriorst Bill Ayers. Obama endorsed Ayer’s book and not at 8 years old, and started his political career in Ayer’s home. I know the democrats don’t want to acknowledge any of this but you better enjoy your freedom today because if Obama gets elected, you soon will be headed toward socialism. You cannot deny these facts. "Redistribution of wealth"
Tax Cuts
OK, I am not on here to start shouting contests but I do have a legitimate question for Democrats out there. The tax cut plan that Obama has been promoting says that 95% of the country will get a tax cut which equates to those making less than $250,00 per year. Last night I saw a TV ad from Obama himself (not on Fox news) that said it is still 95% of the country but now it is anyone making less than $200,000.
So my questions are:
1. When and why did he cut the line from $250,000 to $200,000?
2. If you cut the amount to $200,000 how does that still affect 95% of the country? It would seem that is you dropped the income level it would affect more people right?
Obmama's biggest problem is
Obmama's biggest problem is himself. His largest flaws are avoiding the meat in any topic and changing direction. In this campaign his course of action has changed on large issues such as his tax plan and Iraq. He says what people want to hear and nothing more. A simple review of his own statements displays a meandering path of promises. I do not intend to simply attack him, but his inconsist and contradicting statements should be noted by all. It will not be his name or associations that prevent me from voting for him but the fact I cannot predict his direction. Nor do Isee where many of the promises would have been possible even in a perfect world.
john dean
As White House Counsel, he became deeply involved in events leading up to the Watergate burglaries and the subsequent Watergate scandal cover up, even referred to as "master manipulator of the cover up" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).[1] He was convicted of multiple felonies as a result of Watergate, and went on to become a key witness for the prosecution, resulting in a reduction of his time in jail.
Oh yeah...let's all listen to him...I'm sure he has no chip on his shoulder.