By Sean Mussenden
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
Volunteers for Sen. Barack Obama pass out stickers before the start of a meeting of the Democratic National Committee.
By Media General/Sean Mussenden
By Media General/Sean Mussenden
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VIENNA, Va. – The success of Virginia Democrats in the last two elections shows that the party can win in other purple and red states next fall, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said Friday.
“What Virginia Democrats have demonstrated is that if you show up and work hard, not just in Northern Virginia but everywhere, and speak about our values as Democrats and Americans, there is no part of America that Democrats cannot win,” Dean told party leaders from all 50 states at a party meeting in Vienna.
He cited Democratic Sen. Jim Webb’s defeat of incumbent Republican Sen. George Allen in 2006, and state legislative victories earlier this month.
Six Democratic presidential candidates took a break from campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina to attend the party confab. The presidential field has paid scant attention to Virginia voters so far. The state’s primary is scheduled for Feb. 12, after many decisive contests.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina spoke Friday morning, firing up the crowd of staunch Democrats. The three urged reforms in the nation’s health care and educational systems. The crowd saved their loudest applause for talk of ending the Iraq war.
“It’s time for a president who asks Americans to be patriotic about something other than war,” Edwards said.
Obama took a subtle dig at Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, saying that the party needs to nominate a candidate who will be able to say in a general election debate with the Republican nominee that they did not vote to authorize the war in Iraq, as Clinton did.
Virginia wasn't the party’s first choice of location. The meeting was originally scheduled for a hotel in Baltimore, Md., but a labor dispute at the site prompted the move.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, who was scheduled to speak at the event, cancelled her appearance after a man claiming to be carrying a bomb took hostages at her New Hampshire headquarters, authorities said.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, were expected to speak this afternoon.
“What Virginia Democrats have demonstrated is that if you show up and work hard, not just in Northern Virginia but everywhere, and speak about our values as Democrats and Americans, there is no part of America that Democrats cannot win,” Dean told party leaders from all 50 states at a party meeting in Vienna.
He cited Democratic Sen. Jim Webb’s defeat of incumbent Republican Sen. George Allen in 2006, and state legislative victories earlier this month.
Six Democratic presidential candidates took a break from campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina to attend the party confab. The presidential field has paid scant attention to Virginia voters so far. The state’s primary is scheduled for Feb. 12, after many decisive contests.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina spoke Friday morning, firing up the crowd of staunch Democrats. The three urged reforms in the nation’s health care and educational systems. The crowd saved their loudest applause for talk of ending the Iraq war.
“It’s time for a president who asks Americans to be patriotic about something other than war,” Edwards said.
Obama took a subtle dig at Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, saying that the party needs to nominate a candidate who will be able to say in a general election debate with the Republican nominee that they did not vote to authorize the war in Iraq, as Clinton did.
Virginia wasn't the party’s first choice of location. The meeting was originally scheduled for a hotel in Baltimore, Md., but a labor dispute at the site prompted the move.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, who was scheduled to speak at the event, cancelled her appearance after a man claiming to be carrying a bomb took hostages at her New Hampshire headquarters, authorities said.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, were expected to speak this afternoon.