What does vote mean for Virginia?
Virginians will soon have a friend in Washington
BY CHELYEN DAVIS
Date published: 11/6/2008
BY CHELYEN DAVIS
RICHMOND --Virginia Tuesday night elected a second Democratic senator, supported a Democratic president for the first time in 44 years and added at least two--maybe three--Democrats to its Congressional roster.
So what does this mean for Virginia?
In a Washington where the new Democratic president is a good friend of Virginia's governor and considered both of the men who will be senators from Virginia for potential vice-presidential candidates, it means attention for Virginia.
"The good relationship that I've formed with Senator Obama, I can't imagine that's not going to be a benefit," said Gov. Tim Kaine, who was one of Obama's earliest backers.
Kaine didn't mention specific things he would ask Obama for in the future, but said he believes Obama understands what state governments need and how the federal government can help.
"I want a president who understands some things about how to manage an economy and get it moving," Kaine said. "And we have that in Senator Obama."
George Mason University political analyst Stephen Farnsworth said Obama's election is "extraordinarily good news" for Virginia because of Obama's relationships with Kaine, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and now Senator-elect Mark Warner, and his experience campaigning extensively in the state.
"When you have friends in high places that can only help," Farnsworth said.
Webb has been in office only two years, and Warner will be a freshman senator, so while neither will run committees or have traditional power positions in the Senate, Farnsworth said they are both high-profile enough to be more effective for Virginia than perhaps some other newly minted senators.
The fact that it was a close race in Virginia for Obama--who wound up with 52 percent of the vote--is actually better than if Virginia were a reliably blue state, Farnsworth added, because it means Virginia needs to be tended and can't be taken for granted.
"Virginia is a state the Democrats would like to be able to keep in future years. I imagine an Obama administration will be much likelier to jump when Virginia asks for something than, say, Maryland," Farnsworth said. "Maryland's not going anywhere. Virginia's status as kind of a state that's on the fence also helps."
And despite Tuesday night's Democratic victories in the state, Virginia is indeed still an on-the-fence state, perhaps no longer red but not necessarily blue either.
Date published: 11/6/2008
Most recent reader comments:
mandrake - women today can support themselves -no need to buy whole pig for a little sausage.
(posted by
theobc
, Nov. 7, 2008 11:53 pm)
i think the number of wives a man should have should be determined by the first wife and any subsequent wives (if any) that should come down the pike. by doing so, a man would only have as many wives as he could really satisfy. since most men seem to overestimate their abilities in that area, i feel that the wife would be the obvious choice to determine if a second or subsequent wife would be necessary. i think that the majority of men would still only have the one unsatisfied (most of the time) wife,
Note to mizzwilliams33...
(posted by
gramps
, Nov. 7, 2008 6:04 am)
MY point was that the Obama campaign central theme was CHANGE. Particularly CHANGE in Washington and how it operates. Spreading PORK to those who elected him IS NOT CHANGE at all. Those of you who think President elect Obama will CHANGE Washington had better consult with Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and all the other hard left pols in Congress. They have different ideas and are already busy setting their own agenda.
Let it go, . . .
(posted by
SpotsyisHome
, Nov. 6, 2008 11:04 pm)
We have a wonderful opportunity in this country to rise above the sort of pettiness that many of these posts represent. Please use your words wisely & think about the effects that your words may have. It's time to work together -- and your posts can be the beginning of a new time of measured discussion of varying points of view. Try to be a positive influence.
Im so ashamed of you Virginia
(posted by
Xfile
, Nov. 6, 2008 10:27 pm)
I thought you knew better.
Hey, not so fast
(posted by
Mandrake
, Nov. 6, 2008 8:29 pm)
if homosexuals can get married why can't I have 3 or 4 wives? I know it would be expensive but hey (big smile) I can afford it
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