Here are a few photos from this morning's pre-election Democratic GOTV rally with Gov. Kaine, Sen. Webb, former Gov. Warner, dozens of candidates and electeds, and about 250 enthusiastic supporters. I got a few decent photos, and hopefully I'll be getting a bunch more from my friend Mary Lee in the next few hours. In the meantime, here are a few highlights:*Tim Kaine said that this election is between one party that's all about optimism and hope, while the other party is all about "who we are mad at, who we are afraid of."
*Kaine emphasized that on Wednesday morning, there will be numerous races decided by just a few votes, so get people out to vote tomorrow!
*Brian Moran said that the difference between Republican and Democrats is that they see problems and challenges as a chance to divide people, while we see those same problems and challenges as an opportunity to unite us.
*Mroan said we are facing "serious challenges" requiring "serious solutions," and all that requires "serious leaders."
*For my money, Jim Webb gave the best speech of the day. Man, has this guy gotten good at public speaking!
*Webb recalled that last year, "you made the difference" in electing him and defeating George Allen. This year, we need to do it again.
*Webb talked about how he walked a picket line during the campiagn last year, despite "advisors" telling him not to do it because it wouldn't be politically smart. But Webb said he believed it was the "right thing to do," and that this is what politics should be about.
*Webb contrasted the "affirmative leaders" standing behind him on the stage with the "other side," which defines "Virginia values" as the ones that "they agree with!"
*Webb blasted the Republicans for their politics of "exclusiveness, not inclusiveness."
*Webb quipeed that he didn't think anyone on the stage with him had brought the mayor of New York City here to campaign with them.
*Webb related that when he was boxing, he was always told to "leave nothing behind" in the ring. In football, they say "leave it on the field." And it's the same thing in politics, according to Webb.
*Dick Saslaw asked, "Would you rather be us or them today?"
*Saslaw -- who also gave a great speech, by the way -- sharply contrasted the Republicans with the Democrats, remarking that he'd "never seen any one of our candidtaes try to turn a political nickel a the expense of another group" like the Republicans do.
*Saslaw continued to lay into the Republicans, accusing them of "demagoguery" and "appeal to the basest instincts."
*Saslaw said that Dwight Eisenhower wouldn't be a Republican today, but would be backing our Democratic candidates.
*Saslaw called Democrats a "party of ideas," while Republicans are a "party of chutzpah." He accused Republicans of wanting to "do away with government where government matters most."
*Mark Warner emphasized the importance of the elections tomorrow, to continue the progress we've made over the past 6 years since Virginians elected Warner/Kaine.
*Warner observed that Republicans have "castigated" and "chastised" people in their party who worked together with him when he was governor to try and get things done for Virginia. Some of these people just "reflexively" say no, while Democrats "get things done."
[UPDATE: There's good coverage of the rally here.]
