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One day after the Obama campaign named former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner the keynote speaker for the Democratic National Convention, McCain campaign officials hustled today to show their strengths in the commonwealth.
“Virginia is very much a center-right state at this point,” said McCain political director Mike DuHaime in a conference call with Virginia reporters.
John McCain is “perfectly situated” to win Virginia, thanks to his strength among veterans and military families and “maverick” appeal to crossover Democrats in Northern Virginia, he said.
Campaign officials said they were “not concerned” that Warner’s Senate candidacy will help boost fellow Democrat Barack Obama’s chances of wining the state’s 13 electoral votes in November.
“I think people are going to make decisions (on the presidential and Senate race) independent of each other,” DuHaime said.
Republicans downplayed the idea that Virginia is trending Democratic after 44 years of supporting Republican presidential candidates.
DuHaime said Obama does not fit the mold of Democrats who’ve won recent statewide elections in Virginia, like Warner, Gov. Tim Kaine and Sen. Jim Webb. DuHaime said they are “moderate-centrist Democrats, even conservative on some issues.”
Obama spokesman Kevin Griffis countered, pointing to Obama's bipartisan work with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., to contain nuclear weapons.
"Clearly, he's somebody who works across the aisle," Griffis said.
Of three Virginia polls conducted this month, two found McCain with a one-point edge. Obama and McCain were tied in the third.
Still, Du Haime said, “I would not say it is a toss up.” It is “certainly one that leans in our direction.”
Griffis disagreed. "If you look at the wins by Governor Kaine, Governor Warner and Senator Webb, it's clear Virginia is a purple state," he said.
--Neil H. Simon
“Virginia is very much a center-right state at this point,” said McCain political director Mike DuHaime in a conference call with Virginia reporters.
John McCain is “perfectly situated” to win Virginia, thanks to his strength among veterans and military families and “maverick” appeal to crossover Democrats in Northern Virginia, he said.
Campaign officials said they were “not concerned” that Warner’s Senate candidacy will help boost fellow Democrat Barack Obama’s chances of wining the state’s 13 electoral votes in November.
“I think people are going to make decisions (on the presidential and Senate race) independent of each other,” DuHaime said.
Republicans downplayed the idea that Virginia is trending Democratic after 44 years of supporting Republican presidential candidates.
DuHaime said Obama does not fit the mold of Democrats who’ve won recent statewide elections in Virginia, like Warner, Gov. Tim Kaine and Sen. Jim Webb. DuHaime said they are “moderate-centrist Democrats, even conservative on some issues.”
Obama spokesman Kevin Griffis countered, pointing to Obama's bipartisan work with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., to contain nuclear weapons.
"Clearly, he's somebody who works across the aisle," Griffis said.
Of three Virginia polls conducted this month, two found McCain with a one-point edge. Obama and McCain were tied in the third.
Still, Du Haime said, “I would not say it is a toss up.” It is “certainly one that leans in our direction.”
Griffis disagreed. "If you look at the wins by Governor Kaine, Governor Warner and Senator Webb, it's clear Virginia is a purple state," he said.
--Neil H. Simon