Kilgore: Obama wrong on issues for Virginia

By JR Hoeft

Former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore and Del. Chris Saxman, co-chairs for the McCain for President campaign in Virginia, answered questions from the media this afternoon in advance of Sen. Barack Obama’s trip into Virginia (Bristol and Bristow) tomorrow.

“The Appalachians are a nice fly-over stop for Obama to be whisked-in and whisked-out,” said Saxman. He believes that Obama doesn’t have any particular interest in the voters of rural Virginia and that the move is pure politics.

Kilgore suggested that Obama has chosen to come to Virginia in an effort to win over former Clinton supporters who are now beginning to support Sen. John McCain; however, he said that it will be very difficult for Obama to capture those voters in Virginia because Obama’s views don’t fit the centrist model that has given Democrats their recent victories.

Kilgore stated that Obama’s policies on energy and guns are simply “wrong” for rural Virgina.

According to Kilgore, Obama’s policy of making “dirty energy” (Obama’s words) like coal subject to taxes, would have a profound negative impact on southwest Virgina where more than 5% of U.S. coal production originates. He also reminded reporters that Obama has an “F-rating” from the NRA.

Both leaders suggested that Obama accept McCain’s challenge to a series of town-hall discussions before the national conventions this summer in order for the media and public to ask Sen. Obama “direct questions” about his positions and policies.

They also noted that as Americans begin to learn more about Obama’s policies, their enthusiasm for him is apt to diminish.

“As issues begin to gel and people understand Obama’s views, tons of volunteers for McCain will come out,” said Kilgore. “We’re taking the message of John McCain to every corner of the state. I feel great about having a candidate like John McCain.”