More campaign investment in Virginia

By Jay Warren
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: February 1, 2008

Yesterday, I talked about the organizational strength in Virginia of Barack Obama and to a lesser extent John McCain. Both men picked up a series of endorsements in the Commonwealth on Thursday.

Today, we saw more signs of things picking up in the Commonwealth. On the Republican side, Sen. McCain has sent out several news releases with lists of supporters in the General Assembly, as the grassroots level and in the business community. Several local leaders have now endorsed him including Dave Nutter (R-Christiansburg), Bill Carrico (R-Grayson Co.), and Sen. Robert Hurt (R-Pittsylvania Co.). He also has the endorsements of Sen. John Warner and former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore. We have yet to hear much out of the Huckabee and Romney camps.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Obama continued to his Virginia presence by announcing his first television ad to run in the Commonwealth. He also picked up the endorsements of Dels. Ward Armstrong (D-Martinsville) and Onzlee Ware (R-Roanoke).

Friday, Sen. Clinton released her Virginia staff list which includes some familiar names like Henry and Elleithee. Mike Henry ran Tim Kaine’s successful gubernatorial campaign and was a key player in Mark Warner’s. Mo Elleithee served in the press shops for Sen. Robb’s re-election campaign and the gubernatorial campaigns of Kaine and Warner.

Clinton also announced her Southwest Virginia coordinator. His name is Jeff Mitchell, a Blacksburg attorney. Mitchell has deep roots in far Southwest Virginia and is well connected in the Virginia Democratic Party, particularly with the Mark Warner crowd.

All of this likely indicates a couple of things. First, the Republicans are still more focused on Feb. 5th, a series of primaries and caucuses that could very well decide the nomination. Second, the investments being made by Obama and Clinton in Virginia could mean the Commonwealth will be a big battleground for the Democrats. Stay tuned.