February 09, 2008
"And Now On To The Main Event, Folks"
RICHMOND -- Hillary Clinton was greeted warmly at the VA Dem Party's Jefferson-Jackson dinner. But the night belonged to her rival -- here, where voters chanted "Yes We Can" during their governor's rousing introduction of Barack Obama, and in LA, WA and NE, where Obama won decisive caucus and primary victories.
Just three days before Tuesday's DC, MD and VA primaries, Obama rode a burgeoning wave of post Super Tuesday momentum into the Virginia Commonwealth University stadium. He entered to intense applause, and when he wrapped his arm around Gov. Tim Kaine, who introduced Obama by saying "now on to the main event, folks," the audience went wild.
Obama reframed himself -- yet again -- as the underdog, despite the evening's news, and he made a firm and extended pitch for himself as the candidate of choice against likely GOP nom John McCain.
Obama said he does better among independents than Clinton and that he is showing as this contest chugs on that he can win red state America.
"Virginia Democrats know how important this is," he said. "That’s how Mark Warner won in this state. That’s how Tim Kaine won in this state. That’s how Jim Webb won in this state. And if I am your nominee, that's how I'll win this state."
Obama saluted McCain for his service to country, but noted -- as Clinton did earlier -- that he has aligned himself with President Bush, on policies from the Iraq war to tax cuts for the wealthy.
"Somewhere along the way the wheels came off the Straight Talk Express," Obama said.
Obama campaigns in VA tomorrow, starting in Alexandria and later in Virginia Beach. HRC is also in VA, Manassas and Roanoke. Bill Clinton and his daughter, Chelsea, campaign tomorrow in DC and MD for HRC.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted at 11:00 PM
Comments
See? Even the democrats are ganging up on poor Hillary. Don't they realize that she is inevitable?
just another dem | 02.10.08 09:53 AM
 |
Post a comment
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400 · fax 202-833-8069
NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.
