Senator Evan Bayh draws a crowd of Roanokers without Senator Biden

By Candice Nelson
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: October 5, 2008

It wasn’t Senator Joe Biden who stepped onstage at Century Park Plaza in Roanoke, but Senator Evan Bayh. The names sound alike, and their cause is the same. That’s why Obama supporters still came to the event after Biden announced he wouldn’t attend the rally after a family illness.

“Virginia is one of those states that might swing over to the Democrats this year, and I think it’s good that we have this much support out,” said Roy McKenzie.

Roanoker, Mark Powell, introduced the senator to the crowd. Powell said it’s the most important election he’s seen in his lifetime.

“Some of the issues that affect people like my wife and I who are in the middle class- healthcare, energy prices, education, and other things that just affect average people here in Roanoke,” Powell said.

Those were the key issues for Bayh. He says Obama wants people to have affordable healthcare and claims, “John McCain would actually impose a tax on the healthcare coverage your employers provide you.“

He also said Obama supports energy independence.

“We’re more dependant today on imported oil than we were on 9/11,” Bayh claimed.

Bayh listened and answered questions from the men and women. Virginia is a battleground state. In this election, Bayh said, Democrat vs. Republican is not as important.

“You’ve got a lot of Independents and moderate Republicans who concluded we can’t take four more years of what we had. And they know John McCain is an honorable person, a good man, but he’s embraced President Bush’s economic agenda and healthcare agenda,” Bayh said.

But whether you support Obama, McCain, or are undecided, Bayh said, “I understand a lot of [people] are probably turned off by politics and probably think ‘These politicians- none of them tell the truth and why should I bother to go vote?‘ This is a big-time election.“

That’s something both sides can agree on.

Senator Bayh spent more time in Virginia. After he left Roanoke, he went to Henrico County, where Senator Biden was also planning to campaign.

The McCain camp is also busy traveling the nation. On Monday, Governor Sarah Palin is scheduled to appear in Florida.