Gilmore, McCain's brother stop in Staunton

http://news.google.com ^ | October 12, 2008 | By Mindi Westhoff

[Maelstorm]

STAUNTON — With fewer than 25 days left until election day, candidates and supporters gathered to rally voters Saturday at the monthly Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County Republican breakfast. Advertisement Quantcast

Showing their support for Sen. John McCain's presidential candidacy, younger brother Joe McCain and former Gov. Jim Gilmore encouraged Republicans to spend the next month putting in a final bid to independents and Democrats for their votes.

Pushing not only financial donations but also grassroots efforts, both men urged Republicans to canvas for McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whom Gilmore called an "exciting, fresh, new candidate."

Addressing the economy and the Iraq conflict, McCain said the country has seen many wars and between eight and 11 serious economic crashes in its history. Reminiscing about the senator's Vietnam War experience, McCain said the country simply needs a president with character who can manage the crises.

"The United States has been here before," McCain said. "How you get through this depends on whose hand is at the helm of the ship."

Gilmore told voters he strongly opposed last week's $700 billion economic rescue package, but McCain supported his brother's vote for it, saying that even though the package included earmarks, McCain simply wanted to get the fiscal problem "temporarily out of the way" to focus on more other issues.

Along with offering his support to McCain and Palin, Gilmore addressed his own candidacy for U.S. Senate. Gilmore said that although Virginians may think of his opponent, former Gov. Mark Warner, as a "nice guy," he is not in tune with what Virginia voters want.

[linn37]

Is this his older brother? They could almost pass for twins judging by the picture.

[DemonDeac]

Two things.

1). As goes Virginia so goes the nation.
2). Gilmore is dead in the water. Even if the poles have Warners lead ten points too high he is still winning by double digits. Why? I have no clue. Perhaps Virginia posters can help me out. Is it that Gilmore is so unpopular or that people love Mark Warner? Sitting south of you in NC I don’t know the dynamics enough of this race but Warner has been up at least 20 in every poll i’ve seen.

[KriegerGeist]

We [Virginia] are a "Blue" state now. To throw our Senator George Allen after great service for some alleged 'macca' statement made in college... To elect that POS Jim Webb that has voted the Harry Reid line ever since is proof. Virginia wants another liberal to partner up with Webb.

Northern VA, Tidewater/Hampton Roads & Richmond has the voting power to override the rest of the state. NoVA is heavy on big-government, Tidewater/Hampton Roads and Richmond like the big-government handouts.

Any other Virginian can correct me if I'm wrong. I will take correction and learn and become wiser.

P.S. I would not even count out an Obama win in VA. I personally don't know, but as I said, I would not count it out.

[HokieMom]

BTTT