Gilmore stumps in Danville

By Bernard Baker
Danville Register & Bee
Published: July 30, 2008

Republican Senate candidate Jim Gilmore didn’t act like he was 20 points behind in the polls when he campaigned Tuesday in Danville.

Gilmore met with about 50 supporters at Mary’s Diner. The former Virginia governor said he was pleased with the local turnout, and with the way the campaign is going.

“I don’t know that I’m 20 points behind,” Gilmore said.

He said there has been no important polling done at this point and said the numbers will change once people pay more attention in the fall.

Gilmore said there are two major issues in this election: energy policy and trust.

He said people talk to him daily on the campaign trail about the tough time they have paying for $4-a-gallon gasoline and the rising price of food. Gilmore’s energy plan calls for offshore drilling in remote parts of Alaska.

He said the U.S. needs to expand its nuclear and coal production to become energy independent.

“Go drill in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) now,” Gilmore said. “The time has come to drill off-shore.”

Gilmore, who is facing off against another former governor, Democrat Mark Warner, in the fall, said the crisis is so severe it is now a matter of national security that new sources of energy be found. This also includes developing cars that get better gas mileage and electric vehicles as well.

Local resident Mike Henley was concerned that if additional oil is found, it could be absorbed into the international market with no benefit to the U.S.

Gilmore said provisions in legislation would halt overseas sales.

He also used the campaign stop as a chance to voice why he is a better candidate then Warner.

Gilmore said Warner is not trust worthy. He said Warner pledged not to raise taxes and raised them once in office.

“You can’t trust Mark Warner,” Gilmore said. “I do what I say.”

Area Democratic legislators said they were surprised Gilmore billed his campaign swing as a Virginia Working Families tour.

“Jim Gilmore may call his visit a ‘Working Families Tour,’” Delegate Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, said in a prepared statement, “But the facts show that, when he had a chance to actually help working families in Martinsville, he repeatedly chose not to. He still owes this community an explanation.”

Legislators wanted jobless benefits to pay for health insurance for 3,300 unemployed textile workers in the Martinsville-Henry County area who list their textile jobs.

Gilmore said that would favor one group of workers over another. He said he boosted benefits for displaced workers and brought jobs to Southside, including Martinsville and Henry County.

Campaign manager Dick Leggitt said Gilmore has a special rapport with working class voters, rather than Country Club Republicans, because they share the same values.

Contact Bernard Baker at or (434) 791-7986.