Warner’s Inroads
By Norman Leahy | Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 | Catch-AllHad a nice young woman come to our door in the sultry Henrico suburbs this evening. She was canvassing the neighborhood for Mark Warner. After I told her, in rather colorful terms, what I thought of Warner – and Jim Gilmore – we talked a little shop.
But afterwards, something struck me — she said the Warner campaign was reaching out, even into rock-ribbed Republican neighborhoods like mine — to ID voters and maybe change some minds.
In other words, Mark Warner isn’t chasing Democratic voters any longer. They are already his. He’s chasing Republicans now (and has been for some time).
It reminded me of a similar meeting back in 2005, when Mrs. Leahy had a chat with a Kaine canvasser in the front yard (who within a couple of days, sent us a follow-up thank you note). This kind of ground game can move votes. It helped Kaine here in 2005 and it will most likely help Warner, too.
I’m still waiting for the day when a GOP canvasser comes to my neighborhood…just so I can determine whether they really exist.
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About the author
Norm Leahy has written about Virginia and national politics online since 2002, beginning with One Man's Trash (OMT), and continuing through Bacon's Rebellion (both the blog and the e-zine), Sic Semper Tyrannis, NBC12's Decision Virginia, Richmond.com and Tertium Quids. He is the chief blogger at "The Score" and a producer of "The Score" radio show as well as being a Washington Post contributor.
Comments
6 Responses to "Warner’s Inroads"
sounds to me like you need to burn some leather this weekend. Hell, you can even door knock your own house for effect.
We’re working our district…
http://rightsideva.blogspot.com/2008/07/working-draft-and-fairfield-firemans.html
Under the premise which you are suggesting Warner is doing, shouldn’t Republicans being canvassing democrat neighborhoods and areas?
Governor Gilmore won more African American vote than any other Republican in history. Shouldn’t he be trying to get those votes, which are especially important this year?
John,
Do you honestly believe Gilomore will move the what is sure to be huge Obama black vote to split ticket?
You never know, Cato. A lot of African Americans went to the polls in 2006 to vote FOR the Marriage Amendment that George Allen backed and Jim Webb opposed, but then voted for Jim Webb because he was the Democrat.
Cato, If you take a minute to study Gov. Gilmore’s record with the African American community, I think they would have a very clear distinction.
Governor Gilmore gave aide and funds to elevate HBC’s in Virginia to be schools you could be proud to attend and receive a degree from.
As Attorney General he helped spear head the effort to stop black church burnings throughout the South.
What did Warner do? He put a statue in Capitol Square…
So when it comes to issues, the choice is clear. What’s your argument Cato?
And another note: Just because it’s difficult to switch voters, does it make it not worth it? It would appear you just want to give up on a potential block of voters. What if every politician had that mentality?
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