T-L-C are A-O-K! Summer Kickoff in McLean

First, let me just say that this was a very well organized event.  Having recently leveled just a wee bit of criticism at some of the Kaine campaign staff, I've got to give them credit where credit is due, and today was very well done.  Days before the event, I received several phone calls and e-mails reminding me about it, telling me exactly where it was, and asking if I could come.  Excellent.  Then, there were literally hundreds of Kaine signs lining the roads leading to Northern Virginia Campaign Headquarters.  Parking was ample and well ordered, and there were volunteers galore.  Last but not least, the food was great, from some of the best restaurants around the Fairfax/McLean/Vienna area.  A nice added bonus!

As far as the crowd was concerned, there were lots of folks -- adults, teenagers, small kids -- all having a good time, talking politics, and soaking up some mid-summer sunshine.  Democratic candidates and politicians were certainly out in force as well, with Master of Ceremonies Gerry Connolly (Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman) leading the way.  Other Democrats in attendance included:  Congressman Jim Moran, Delegate Mark Sickles, Delegate Brian Moran, 51st District candidate Earnie Porta, 37th District candidate David Bulova, 42nd District candidate Greg Werkheiser,  67th District candidate Chuck Caputo, 45th District candidate David Englin,  and several others.

I spoke with many of these folks, and I have a few observations.  In a RaisingKaine exclusive, David Bulova revealed that he was NOT wearing a "$100 dress shirt and and $100 slacks" today, as one rumor-mongering, self-absorbed blog reported back in June.  However, he WAS wearing his well-worn pair of shoes.

I spoke with Leslie Byrne and Creigh Deeds, neither of whom I had ever met before, and was very impressed with both.  Each of these candidates is definitely whip-smart, outgoing, and personable.  After meeting them, I am more confident than ever about the Democratic ticket's chances this November.  Byrne and Deeds are so head-and-shoulders better than Bolling and McDonnell, it's not even funny.

I also ran into people I DID know, like David and Shayna Englin, Janet Oleszek, Greg Werkheiser, Chris Ambrose, Kenton Ngo, and many others. 

The highlight of the day was, of course, the food.  Whoops, I mean the speeches.  Did I say food? :)  Seriously, though, the candidates really fired up the crowd today.  Gerry Connolly batted leadoff and emphasized that the future of the state depends on the election of Tim Kaine, Leslie Byrne, and Creigh Deeds.  Connolly stressed that we are building a bi-partisan coalition, one voter at a time.  Everyone talked about how heavy turnout in Northern Virginia would be a key to victory.

Creigh Deeds spoke next, talking about how we need to "put everything we can into [the race]" with just 120+ days to go.  Deeds was very funny, talking about how he had a donkey named "Harry S. Truman" that some people have suggested he take around the state with him.  Even in the absence of Harry S. Truman, though, Deeds did a fine job of "giving 'em hell," at least in my opinion.  Deeds talked about how Democrats believe in the "organizing power of government to effect positive change in ordinary peoples' lives."  He talked about how Mark Warner had "restored credibility to the Democratic Party" in Virginia as the party of fiscal responsiblity and the ones that brought Virginia "best managed state in the country" awards.  Deeds emphasized that, as Attorney General, his #1 job will be to "keep Virginia safe."  He is counting on a "huge turnout in northern Virginia and across Virginia" to carry the entire ticket to victory in November.

Leslie Byrne spoke to the fact that the concerns facing Northern Virginia residents - "affordable health care, top-notch education for their kids, secure jobs, clearn air and water" - are also the concerns of ALL Virginians.  She stressed that the Democratic ticket represents "mainstream Virginia values."  Byrne pointed out that the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor highlights the importance of races like this one, with each state increasingly likely to decide such things as the right of women to choose and other important issues.  Finally, Byrne called on people to talk to their friends and persuade people who normally only vote in Presidential elections to vote this year.  There is a great deal at stake.

Next, Jim Moran, in his inimitable style, fired up the crowd with some military-style rhetoric:  "you are the front-line troops," "we're engaged in a war."  Man, I knew it was rough in Congress these days, but Moran was practically breathing fire, talking about how "some people think they can take this country backwards to the days of racism and no hope for the future," and how we need to stop them dead in their tracks.  Moran provided his political analysis for 2005: Democrats will win the governorship of New Jersey easily, which means that Virginia is the key battleground state this year.  According to Moran, "Republicans think they're going to win" in Virginia, and warned that the "progress made under Mark Warner can be lost."  He stated point blank that the Republicans "are determined to set the clock back," while Democrats fight to maintain a country where "reverence for the truth," "inclusiveness," "tolerance," and "trust in the role to government to make peoples' lives better" are paramount.  According to Moran, if we followed Democratic values, we wouldn't be in Iraq, we wouldn't be giving huge tax cuts to rich people, and much more. In other words, our priorities would be far different, and far better, than they are now. 

Last but not least, Tim Kaine asserted that this race would be won in Northern Virginia.  He praised his running mates, describing both Leslie Byrne and Creigh Deeds as "fiscally responsible" and "fighters," while specifically singling out Bill Bolling as having "opposed every single thing Mark Warner and I have accomplished the last three years." 

Kaine stated that "this race is going to be extremely tough," with the White House knowing that they're either going to go "1 for 2 or zero for 2 this year [in New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races]."  Kaine added that the White House seems to believe that the 2001 Warner/Kaine victory was "a big fluke."  What they fail to recognize, Kaine said, was that by 2001 Virginia was "in a ditch" financially, with partisanship at "terrible" levels.  That's why, in 2001, "Virginians started to change their mind about who could best run Virginia," and essentially said "we'll let you [Democrats] give it a try." 

In response, the Warner/Kaine administration "rescued the state's bond rating" and helped create the "second fastest job growth in the country" right here in Virginia.  And, unlike the Kilgore/Bolling/McDonnell types, Kaine/Warner have been all about  "bring[ing] people together not divid[ing] them." Not surprisingly, "Virginians are responding" to that message of hope and optimism.

Finally, Kaine talked about how he wanted to win this race "deeply," how he's a "competitive guy" who "doesn't even like to lose in checkers," and how Jerry Kilgore's attack ads on him for defending African Americans from housing discrimination made him "really want to win now."  As far as Kilgore is concerned, he's all about "divide and conqure," "trashing people," and "motivating 60% by demonizing the other 40%."  Kaine emphasized that he can't beat Kilgore by outspending him 2:1, that he's not a "rich guy," and that he needs peoples' "energy, dedication and passion."  The crowd responded, as one, with an enthusiastic roar:  that's exactly what we're going to give you, Governor Kaine!

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