Vote Earley ( and often)

nationalreview.com/ ^ | 11/05/2001 | By John J. Miller & Ramesh Ponnuru

[KQQL]

Vote Earley
Bush, Giuliani, and Bishop Loverde pitch in.

By John J. Miller & Ramesh Ponnuru
November 5, 2001 11:00 a.m.

Behind in the polls and badly outspent by his opponent, Virginia's GOP candidate for governor brought America's two most popular politicians and an important religious leader into his campaign over the weekend. Mark Earley's campaign mailed a brochure displaying a big picture of Earley walking half a step behind President Bush on what appears to be a tarmac. Inside, there's a quote from Bush: "I appreciate his strong stance on holding the line on taxes and cutting the car tax in Virginia." Bush recorded a phone message on behalf of Earley and two ticket mates, lieutenant governor candidate Jay Katzen and attorney general candidate Jerry Kilgore: "Mark Earley, Jay Katzen and Jerry Kilgore are the experienced leaders Virginia needs to keep the state moving forward--with a positive agenda for lower taxes, accountable schools, more jobs, and a safe and secure commonwealth." Earley's campaign also aired a new ad featuring New York mayor Rudy Giuliani: "If I were a Virginian, I would vote for Mark Earley." Voters who tuned in to the start of the World Series game last night would have seen it.

In northern Virginia, Earley may benefit as well from a letter by Catholic Bishop Paul Loverde that was either read at Masses or inserted into church bulletins over the weekend. In it, Loverde reminds parishioners of their "moral responsibility to vote" on Tuesday. "Respect for the dignity of the human person must be part of our consciousness as we enter the voting booth," continues the two-page letter. It also reminds voters of "the priority to protect the human life of all persons, pre-born and born."

The letter would have been stronger if Loverde had mentioned specifically that Earley is the pro-life candidate in the race and that his opponent, Democrat Mark Warner, supports abortion rights. In other words, there's more than just a moral responsibility to vote; there's a moral responsibility to vote for Mark Earley. Another possibility would have been to attach a scorecard showing how Earley and Warner (plus other candidates down the ticket) differ on abortion. Earley, for instance, supports legislation to require parental consent before a minor may obtain an abortion, while Warner won't commit past the parental-notification law that Earley helped enact.

As things stand, the bishop's letter leaves voters on their own to figure out the candidates' positions by tomorrow's election day. Perhaps they're sophisticated enough to know where Earley and Warner stand. Then again, perhaps not--and they won't receive much help from Earley's campaign website, which focuses on taxes, education, and safety issues.

But it's a good conclusion to what has been a lackluster campaign. In the end, though, the only thing that may salvage the hopes of those who intend to vote Earley is if they somehow manage to vote often.

[Ward Smythe]

So far, local media reports a very heavy turnout in Richmond, which is big Earley country

At about 7:45 a.m. I was number #137 at my precinct which is heavily GOP. That's a pretty good turnout, but about 100 shy the number at about the same time last year. Earley will carry my precinct as well as Chesterfield County. Let's hope with a wide margin.

[Ligeia]

Check the FR Virginia Page for other news article links. It was good to hear respected Congressman Frank Wolf on WMAL radio this morning making an impassioned plea for Earley. Wolf touted Earley's experience as attorney general and his refusal to raise taxes as important factors in voting for Earley.

[xsmommy]

i was #5 in my No. VA polling place at 6 am. My husband went at 7:30 and was #63. That sounds low, and probably for the best, as my district is also fairly liberal. Praying for an Earley victory!

[Theodore R.]

Yes, Chuck, I have been writing on this board for months about how naive, gullible, stupid, ignorant, and deceitful the American people CAN be. Now, if Schundler and Earley were to win, I might have to rethink by skepticism. But I have no doubt that the Democrats will win both governorships. I will be the most surprised man in TX if I am delightfully proved to be wrong tonight. I expect the networks to call both races within 15 minutes of the closing of the polls. I don't know about the VA lt. gov. and attorney general races; apparently the GOP can win the attorney general's post because it has a superior candidate in that race.

[Ligeia]

Warner votes in Alexandria, so the news crews were out watching him cast his ballot. He had about a dozen or so sign-wavers for the cameras. Turnout is expected to be lighter than usual, only about a quarter of the voters, according to guru Larry Sabato.

[Theodore R.]

Yes, Chuck, I have been writing on this board for months about how naive, gullible, stupid, ignorant, and deceitful the American people CAN be. And many have responded very harshly to me, even calling me a "Democrat plant." Now, if Schundler and Earley were to win, I might have to rethink by skepticism of "we the people." But I have no doubt that the Democrats will win both governorships. I will be the most surprised man in TX if I am delightfully proved to be wrong tonight. I expect the networks to call both races within 15 minutes of the closing of the polls.

[putupon]

I'd hold my nose for Early.

no need for that, the stink from Warner over powers any odor from the GOP. Like a small fart compared to sewage treatment plant.

[xsmommy]

isn't THAT the truth!!!

[mwl1]

what general area of Richmond - suburbs, inner city etc?

[hchutch]

Looking good so far.

[Newman]

2 for Earley here from (ugh) NOVA. I, for one, am sick and tired of seeing these damn 'win with warner' signs all over the place. I was envisioning driving up rt. 28 here and easing my Jeep into the median... *blap* *blap* *blap* *blap* .. about 1 per second.

[Ligeia]

I voted early, two Saturdays ago via the satellite voting booths Fairfax County sets up. I heard a media report saying those votes were lower than usual this year. That could be a good sign, since this county would have to be considered Warner territory. This county voted for Dole and Bush, but trends Dem in state politics.

[Ligeia]

Whose signs are those, anyway? Someone told me they belong to the police union.

[Nataku X]

turnout?

[hchutch]

I call a split. Earley win in VA, Schundler a close loss in NJ that may be questionable.

[coramdeo]

Actually, its in Midlothian, southwest of Richmond. We vote at the grade school across the street from our church (where the Earleys also attend). At 8:30 AM, my wife and I were the 376th and 377th to vote, and I would guess its at least 90% for Earley.

[the bottle let me down]

Whose signs are those, anyway? Someone told me they belong to the police union.

Definitely some union, but the print is too small to read from a car as you're driving by.

[Newman]

This is the first time voting in this precinct, and we voted Earley, so I really can't say.. The firehall was pretty dead for 6:30 though, lots of cars driving right past. Good to see the soccer SUVs just spew right past..

[vollmond]

I was number 46 for the M-Z's at my Merrifield polling place at 7:30 this morning. That was lower than usual, and there was no line at all this morning. If people in Northern Virginia are waiting until this evening to vote, we could be a jack-knifed tractor-trailer or two from an Earley landslide.

Vollmond

[Ligeia]

Speaking of unions, the public schools here are closed today in order for the members of the teachers' union to work and vote for their candidate. Guess which one?