View the King George County community page

Warner rallies Democrats

Warner, Byrne speak at Democratic Party of Virginia meeting in Fredericksburg

Date published: 9/18/2005

By CATHY JETT

By CATHY JETT

To cheers and cries of "2008, 2008," Gov. Mark Warner fired up the Democratic Party faithful yesterday at the Holiday Inn Select in Central Park.

Virginia has gone from being "not only a red state, but a state in the red," to being named the best-managed state in the country in the Government Performance Project, he told about 250 Democrats attending a quarterly meeting of the state party committee.

"That's a record we should be proud of," Warner said. "What our challenge is this year is to make sure that progress moves forward."

His appearance, which was followed by lieutenant governor hopeful Leslie Byrne's speech and a pig roast for 3,500 people at the governor's King George County farm, was one of two big campaign events in the Fredericksburg area yesterday. Three Republican candidates for Virginia's top offices appeared at a re-election kickoff for Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania.

Polls show the races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are close, Warner said, warning that Republicans already are resorting to "fear tactics" in their campaigns.

"It's up to us to make sure we have a positive message," he said.

The governor highlighted achievements of his and Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine's administration, including a decrease in unemployment, increased spending for education and the enrollment of 97 percent of eligible disadvantaged children in the state children's health insurance program.

Kaine is the party's nominee to succeed Warner. Virginia governors are not allowed to serve successive terms, but Warner has been mentioned by some as a possible presidential candidate in 2008.

Warner said he was proud of Virginia's efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The state was one of the first to send in its National Guard, he said.

"While we are blessed to live in the strongest country in the world, and we should remain the strongest country, our primary obligation is to take care of Americans, particularly when they are in need," he said.

Byrne, who followed Warner at the podium, said the governor had paved the way for her, Kaine and attorney general candidate Creigh Deeds. She then asked a group of students from the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies in Richmond to stand.

Follow us on

Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 9/18/2005