Mark Warner says comments on recording are ‘over the top’

By Lindsey Henley
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: October 14, 2008

    It’s a statement Mark Warner made 14 years ago.  Yet the Jim Gilmore campaign is playing up Warner’s remarks in a new recording circulating on the internet. 

  In it, Warner warned about a “coalition” he said had “just about taken over the republican party in this state.”

    Warner said it is made up of people like the Christian Coalition, right-to-life supporters, the NRA, and people who home school.

  “It’s made up of people that have all sorts of differing views that I think most of us in this room would find threatening to what it means to be an American,“ the recording said.

    The comments were made back when Warner was the Virginia Democratic Party Chairman.

    Tuesday, at a campaign stop in Roanoke, Ten On Your Side asked about the recording.

    “Those issues were raised earlier this year.  No legitimate press stories written about it.  I’ve said those comments were over the top, and what I’m proud of is my record,“ Warner said.

    With Warner leading in the polls, political analysts say Gilmore is looking for ways to gain ground. Ten On Your Side spoke with Gilmore’s campaign manager over the phone and he says the campaign is still deciding whether or not to turn the audio recording into a television ad, but they are definitely pushing the recording online and in news releases.

    “My opponent has spent the overwhelming majority of his campaign simply attacking me.  I think people are tired of that kind of politics,“ Warner said.

    Either way, get ready.  As we enter the home stretch of the campaign, more attacks are likely.