Ed Kilgore* comments on the Kaine's BIG victory in Virginia...
tpmcafe.com
Nov 08, 2005 -- 09:46:45 PM EST
Kaine ran ahead of Mark Warner's winning percentage in 2001 in the Northern Virginia suburbs, in Richmond, in Norfolk, and in Charlottesville. Kilgore did better in many rural counties, especially in and near his southwest Virginia base, but not by much, and without any sizeable increase in Republican turnout.
This is a big win, folks. Tim Kaine, a former civil rights attorney, big city mayor, and death penalty opponent, beat the long-groomed, geographically advantaged candidate of a united GOP in a state that hasn't gone Democratic in a presidential election since 1964.
It makes it that much sweeter that George W. Bush flew into Richmond on election eve to lend his dubious prestige to ol' Jerry.
This is a clear national defeat for the GOP, and a good sign for next year.
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*Ed Kilgore is Vice President for Policy at the Democratic Leadership Council; a Senior Editor for Blueprint Magazine; and the author of an "unofficial" DLC blog, NewDonkey.com. Before coming to the DLC in 1995, Kilgore was Communications Director for U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and a federal-state relations liaison and speechwriter for three Governors of his home state of Georgia. He's also served in the script and speechwriting operation of the last five Democratic National Conventions. |
