A Virginia delegation of over 150 representatives arrived in
Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday for this week’s Democratic National
Convention.[1]
Since President Obama won in the commonwealth in 2008,
Virginia has become a political hotbed for both political parties, each
attempting to capture or recapture the once undeniably “red” state.
When President Obama carried Virginia four years ago, he became
the first Democratic presidential candidate to do so since President Lyndon B.
Johnson in 1964.[2]
Because Virginia could prove decisive again in this fall’s
presidential election, the University of Virginia’s Larry Sabato has stated
that he believes Virginia will be given a privileged position at the Democratic
convention.
However, the only representative from the delegation of
Virginians with a speaking role is U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine. “It will
help his fundraising. I’m sure his staff has him going to all the right events
to see the financial angels, and they all know him anyway,” Sabato commented.[3]
For Kaine, his appearance at the Democratic Convention
carries some notable disadvantages as well. The Allen campaign has made it
clear that Kaine’s friendship, and perceived blind adherence, with President
Obama will be used as a means of chiseling away at Virginia’s undecided voters
who support Kaine, but not the president.
The face-time for Kaine in front of a national audience,
though, outweighs the disadvantages. For Virginians, it will afford them an
opportunity to see Tim Kaine speaking live about the issues Virginia and
America faces. Since Tim Kaine is a likeable guy and a good public speaker, it
should only raise his approval among Virginia’s voters. There is, of course, the fundraising element
that Sabato commented upon as well.
It says a lot about how comfortable Tim Kaine and George
Allen feel about their party’s policy platforms, as well. On the one hand, Tim
Kaine will not only be at the Democratic Convention, he’ll be speaking there as
well. Contrast this to George Allen’s self-exclusion from the Republican
National Convention[4]
and we can clearly see just how far outside of the mainstream the Republican
Party has moved.
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