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Kaine backs Forgit, says Democrats are on a roll

December 9, 2007 12:36 am

WILLIAMSBURG--Gov. Tim Kaine hopes Tuesday will mark another step in what he said yesterday is a growing trend in Virginia--Democrats winning supposedly Republican legislative districts.

Tuesday is the special election in the 1st Congressional District, held to fill the seat left vacant when Jo Ann Davis died of breast cancer in early October. Democrat Phil Forgit, Republican Del. Rob Wittman and independent Lucky Narain are running for the seat.

Kaine campaigned with Forgit at a rally here yesterday afternoon, standing on a chair to address a room full of Democrats at the Three Olives Restaurant.

He spoke of how, when he ran for lieutenant governor in 2001, Republicans seemed to be gaining ground--and how since then, two Democrats have won the governorship, one has won a U.S. Senate seat, and Democrats have retaken the state Senate.

"Conventional wisdom says it's very tough" for a Democrat to win the Republican-leaning 1st District, Kaine said. But, he added, "We have a spectacular person in Phil Forgit."

Forgit, a Williamsburg resident, is a decorated Iraq veteran and former teacher. Kaine said that experience would be invaluable in Washington, where fighting to end the war in Iraq, improve veterans services and fend off unfunded educational mandates are all timely issues.

"He's the right person for the right time," Kaine said.

Forgit's primary campaign issues are Iraq--namely, a smart strategy to get out of it--and the needs of service members, veterans and their families.

At yesterday's rally he railed against the fact that better body armor and protection for military vehicles exists but isn't immediately available. He said injured military men and women come home to a system that overcharges them and under-delivers services.

He also supports better border security to combat illegal immigration, protection of the Chesapeake Bay, tax breaks for working families and small businesses, and better education and health-care access for children.

Democrats believe the timing of this race--as people become more disaffected with the Republican position on Iraq--improves Forgit's chances.

Kaine isn't the only big Democratic gun Forgit is pulling out. Former Gov. Mark Warner is set to campaign with Forgit on Monday; Forgit got presidential candidate Barack Obama to send an e-mail supporting him; and he has received donations from the state's Democratic congressmen and from U.S. Sen. Jim Webb.

But at the same time, the 1st District does lean Republican, and Wittman has received much more support from the Republican National Congressional Committee than Forgit has from the Democratic National Congressional Committee.

Kaine said yesterday that perhaps national Democrats aren't as sure as he is that Virginia is beginning to lean Democratic.

"I don't think they're really looking at the opportunity the way they should," Kaine said. "This is a race they should be betting on. People haven't yet grasped how competitive Virginia is."

Forgit said he has the money he needs to run the race the way he wants--which is to use grass-roots get-out-the-vote structures to target likely voters, rather than blanket the district with expensive mailers.

He called it a "very focused, targeted campaign" that recognizes that turnout Tuesday is going to be key.

Voter turnout is expected to be low, so it's critical to all three candidates that their supporters go vote.

"If you want real change, you've got to vote for something different," Forgit told supporters yesterday. "I'm something different. I'm ready to serve, and I hope you're ready to work for the next three days."

He said he is running because he was appalled to think Republicans would just win the seat without a challenge.

"Look at the time we're in," Forgit said. "We have to fight in places like the 1st. To not do that is unpatriotic. I could not stand by and not see this election contested."