Today's Richmond Times Dispatch has an interesting article about Tim Kaine drawing significant financial support from moderate Republicans and Independents. According to a Times-Dispatch analysis of campaign finance data, "Of the nearly $10 million raised by Kaine as of June 1, more than $1.3 million came from those who donated either to [2001 GOP gubernatorial primary candidate John H.] Hager or to Virginians for Warner," a group "formed four years ago to solicit support from Republicans and independents for Democrat Mark R. Warner's winning bid for the Executive Mansion."For those of you who don't remember Hager (seen with George W. Bush at left):
Hager lost the Republican nomination contest four years ago to Attorney General Mark L. Earley, whom Warner defeated that November. Hager, who had ties to the Richmond business community, was considered more politically moderate than Earley.After his election, Warner appointed Hager, a retired tobacco executive, as the state's first anti-terrorism "czar," in what was considered an overture to cen- trist Republicans in developing a bipartisan government.
Two comments by former Hager backers explain the reasoning behind their donations to Tim Kaine. Richmond grocery magnate James E. Ukrop says, "Basically, I like to support those candidates who are more mainstream...I'm more centrist and more of a moderate." And Gary W. Fenchuk, president of East West Partners, says, "I'm very independent and I try to pick the best person. About half the time it ends up being a Republican, half the time it ends up being a Democrat. To me [the party] ends up being irrelevant. I'm not high on labels."
In other words, Tim Kaine has definite appeal to moderate Republicans who are not happy with the extreme social, religious, and rabidly anti-tax brand of conservatism practiced by the Jerry Kilgores, Bill Bollings and "Taliban Bob" McDonnells of the world. And they are well aware that Tim Kaine is not the wild-eyed left-winger the Kilgore campaign would have Virginians believe.
Let's give the last word to UVA Professor Larry J. Sabato, partly in honor of his not being "Not Larry Sabato:"
Kaine, like Warner, is attracting money from some moderate Republicans. At the same time, Kilgore is clearly doing better financially than Mark Earley was at this point in 2001. So once again, it suggests a close race.
That's right, whatever the polls say at the moment, this race is looking definitely winnable for either major party candidate, Kaine or Kilgore. In my opinion, Kaine can and will win in November, but only if his campaign hustles the hardest, energizes its grassroots supporters the best, gets out the message to Virginians that Kaine is a Mark Warner moderate who will get things done for our state. It would also be great if Kaine succeeds in flushing Jerry "the Duck" out of whatever rock he's hiding under, and agreeing to a televised debate or two.
But, even without debates, Tim Kaine will win this race if Democrats, independents and moderate Republicans continue to realize that this race provides a clear choice between bumbling extremism on the one hand (Kilgore), and competent moderation on the other (Kaine). Frankly, if there were any justice in the world, this race would be a blowout - for Tim Kaine, that is. Let's work to make justice happen!