GOP ticket rallies in Danville

Trey Thornton, an 18-year-old Chatham High School student, is eagerly looking forward to Tuesday’s election — his first chance to vote — although it means waking up early to get to the polls before school starts. He said he planned to vote for Bob McDonnell for governor.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Thornton said. “I probably pay attention more than most (other students)… What happens in the next few years is gonna be important.”

Thornton and his classmates from an Advanced Placement government class at Chatham High School were able to hear from McDonnell, the rest of the GOP’s statewide ticket and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele in Danville Thursday morning. Steele joined McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli at the Danville Republican Headquarters on Piney Forest Road, addressing about 150 supporters and observers expressing his confidence in a Republican sweep Nov. 3.

“What’s up, Virginia?” Steele shouted to the group, garnering cheers and applause. “I just wanted to figure out what is going on in Virginia, because there is a buzz going on.”

Steele spoke about Republican pride, saying that the party members are “reacquainting yourselves with winning.” He poked fun at Democrat Creigh Deeds’ campaign, questioning whether he was even running for governor. Turning to a television camera, he sent a message to Deeds, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and the White House.

“We’re coming after you,” Steele said. “Right atcha, baby. Take this video and play it in the West Wing.”

He spoke about where the “real power” of the country lies — in cities, towns and common places like barber shops and taverns. Steele urged the crowd to continue volunteering to help elect the Republican ticket.

“When you do that,” he said, “you will send a shot around this country that will be heard more than any ‘Yes we can,’ because you will do it.”

According to Katie Wright, the RNC’s deputy press secretary, the group has funneled $8 million directly to McDonnell’s campaign and another $300,000 to down ballot races, including Bolling, Cuccinelli and some “targeted” House of Delegates races.

“We’re pretty invested in Virginia,” Wright said. “The RNC — and Michael Steele — see the races as party building.”

State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, running for attorney general, and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, running for reelection, both spoke about the party’s plans for Virginia’s economy. They, along with McDonnell, presented themselves as a unified team — something which political pundits have criticized Deeds and down-ballot Democrats Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon for not doing.

“The polls are encouraging,” Bolling said, “but to win, we’ve got to work just as hard.”

The stop in Danville was the second in a 25-stop RV tour during the countdown to Election Day. McDonnell was last to address the crowd, touting his plan to be a “jobs governor” for areas like Southside. He plugged his plan to “be on the ground” once a month in hard-hit areas and designating Bolling as a job creation officer.

Allison Jaslow, communications director for the Democratic Party of Virginia, was critical of McDonnell’s economic promises and said Deeds was “better for Southside working families and on economic issues in general.”

“(McDonnell’s) record doesn’t support his visions for the future,” Jaslow said. “Creigh Deeds actually has a record of job creation and … for an area like Danville, that’s important.”

As far as the message that a Republican victory in Virginia will send to the country, McDonnell left it up to others to say.

“I’m gonna let the national pundits make that decision,” he said after the rally. “I think it’s fair to say … there’s a lot of national interest in the race… We just want to be good servants for the state.”

Steele described Virginia as “a state in transition feeling the effects of federal policies and a lack of leadership.” He said a GOP win would send a message of “empowerment and ownership” nationwide.

Before the rally, County Supervisor Coy Harville shook the hands with students visiting from Chatham High School. “That’s what we need,” he told them, “young blood in this party.”

Their teacher, Andrea Emerson, was sure to clarify that the outing was a nonpartisan trip for her Advanced Placement government class, which will hold a mock election Monday.

“We are here as nonpartisan observers,” Emerson said. “We came out to get a first-hand taste.”