Posted on 07/30/2008 5:33:37 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
RICHMOND, Va. -- Former Virginia Governor and Democrat Mark Warner has succeeded in a state that has traditionally voted Republican and some are wondering if Barack Obama will be able to do the same.
The state's demographics have made it a battleground in the upcoming presidential election. In fact, rural Virginia could make the difference between a Republican or Democrat in the White House. Virginia, however, hasn't voted for a Democratic President since Lyndon Johnson in l964, but Democratic rural strategist Dave "Mudcat" Saunders insists that inside every rural Virginia Republican is a Democrat trying to get out.
"The question is can Obama become acceptable to the culture. If he does, he wins Virginia. If he doesn't, he loses," said Saunders. Saunders, rural America's very vocal champion, believes in God, guns and the proud history of his confederate ancestors.
"If he [Obama] would come out here, talk to us, ask for our vote and explain similarity of his culture and our culture, you'll see 1/10 white people who voted for Bush in 2004 will...vote for Obama," said Saunders.
But when ABC 7's Gordon Peterson asked conservative Republican Tommy Anderton if he would vote for Obama, he said, "Absolutely not. He's an empty suit." And when asked if he would ever hear Obama speak, he said, "I would listen and not believe a word he'd say."
And you'll never convince gun store owner Ellen Horn that Obama has her best interests at heart. "I don't think he will fight for my rights," said Horn, "I'm probably going to vote for McCain because I think he's leading more toward my rights."
It appears rural Virginians may produce a tough crowd for Obama, because as "Mudcat" Saunders said,"Before Democrats start to reach out to Bubba, they need to know exactly who Bubba is."
I know, I really don’t think he is as far ahead as the liberal press continues to paint him.
You mean the folks with the gun racks in the back window of their pick-up truck?
I don't think there's too many with a gun rack on the front window, so yeah... LOL BTW, I've had a gun rack in my pickup in the past, but in Iowa, not the South.
They aren't the blacks. They are mainly the white, blue collar Democrats in those states. What exactly is Obama supposed to do to win them over that he hasn't done already?
When this realization finally hits the MSM (and it will), we are going to see sheer panic.
Obama is radioactive in Southern, Central, and Southwest Virginia. Not a prayer there, since the Democrats there (including my dear old retired coal miner daddy) are of the UMWA/New Deal variety, not out and out Communists like Obama.
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