Virginia Democrats and Republicans today threw their support behind the presidential bids of Illinois Senator Barrack Obama, a Democrat, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, a Republican, respectively.
Seventeen House Democrats endorsed Mr. Obama earlier today at a press conference, joining Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, who endorsed his fellow Harvard Law school grad within eyeshot of the old Confederate Capitol about a year ago.
In an afternoon press conference, Republicans from the House and Senate voiced their support for McCain, who already has won the backing of Sen. John Warner and Rep. Tom Davis.
Delegate Chris Saxman, Staunton Republican, stood shoulder to shoulder with more than 25 McCain supporters, including Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, POW Paul Galanti and Senator Walter Stosch of Henrico.
"He inspires me to serve others," Mr. Saxman said.
Asked about criticism that McCain has not always pleased conservatives, Mr. Eagleburger responded that most of those attacks comes from television and radio personalities who he called "reactionaries" and "so-called conservatives."
"I'm sick to death of people who says he is or isn't conservative enough," he said."He is not afraid to tell it as he sees it."
In today's paper The Washington Times editorial board weighed in on McCain's conservative credentials, saying, "Mr. McCain's positions don't exactly spell c-o-n-s-e-r-v-a-t-i-v-e."
The Obama endorsement came the same day it was announced his campaign had raised $32 million in the month of January alone and that it would be airing the following two commercials in The Old Dominion: "Enough" and "President".
In Virginia's Feb. 12 primary, Republicans will be fighting for the state's 63 national delegates, while the Democratic will be going for national 101 delegates. The numbers could prove to be of great importance should the race remain tight after Feb. 5, Super Tuesday, when more than 20 states participate.
McCain is expected to host an event in Charlottesville on Feb. 10, two days before Virginians vote in the presidential primary. And, if the race remains too close to call, Democrats expect New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama to speak at the Democratic Party of Virginia's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and Celebration Feb. 9, 2008 at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond.
Obama was the keynote speaker last year, drawing the biggest crowd ever to attend the event.
Today, Democratic Delegates Bob Brink of Arlington, Dwight C. Jones of Richmond Democrat, Kenneth Alexander of Norfolk, Kristen Amundson of Mount Vernon and House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong of Martinsville repeated Obama's campaign theme of change.
"Take a look at the Virginians who are standing before you today to support Barack Obama for president," Brink said. "We are men and women, black and white. We represent cities and suburbs and rural areas from Arlington to Norfolk to Henry County."
"We are united in our conviction that Barrack Obama can bring real change to a broken political system," he also said.
Borrowing Obama's words from his South Carolina victory speech, Brink said the choice in this "is not between regions or religions or genders. It’s not about rich versus poor; young versus old; and it is not about black versus white. It’s about the past versus the future."
House Minority Leader Delegate Ward Armstrong, Martinsville Democrat, became one of Obama's newest supporters.
"Most of you know that until yesterday I was supporting John Edwards for president," Armstrong said. "I supported him in 2004 and I supported him until his withdrawal yesterday."
He also reminded reporters that the areas he represents has the highest unemployment rate in the state.
"If there is ever a district that needs Barack Obama's message of change, it is my district," Armstrong said.
