Sally Bull/SPPSSenatorial candidate Mark Warner campaigns at Old Fire Station #1 in downtown Roanoke yesterday alongside Virginia governor Tim Kaine.
Campaigners in southwest Virginia are aware of their upcoming impact on the world. Walking into the Republican or Democratic Headquarters off Main Street in downtown Blacksburg, it's easy to recognize this immediately. Dozens of volunteers are making hundreds of phone calls in the few hours they have to commit, while last-ditch canvassing efforts are spreading throughout the commonwealth.
Politicians' pathways on Monday were a testament to the area's importance.
Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, running for the Senate seat vacated by John Warner, joined current Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine in downtown Blacksburg Monday at 8 a.m.
Alongside several other politicians, such as Tom Perriello and Sam Rasoul, who are running for Congress, Warner and Kaine asked the audience to continue campaign efforts.
"We could be the state that starts this avalanche of red to blue," Kaine said.
Kaine suggested that southwest Virginia has a responsibility to support Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama because he has been campaigning so heavily in the area. He noted that Obama made his 11th visit to Virginia Monday, and he was the first Democratic candidate to visit Harrisonburg since Steven Douglas, who ran against Abraham Lincoln, did so in 1860.
"He is investing in us," Kaine said. "He's spending his time here. When someone puts that much trust and investment in us, we got to produce. If you win this campaign for Barack Obama, every candidate after this will come to Virginia."
Perriello spoke to the Collegiate Times about the importance of college students in this election.
"Young people started this," Perriello said, explaining that if Iowa hadn't voted for Obama, Hillary Clinton would still be the Democratic presidential nominee. The younger population was partly responsible for Obama's win in Iowa.
"My generation believed that they could make more of a difference by volunteering than voting," Perriello said, adding that this college-aged generation is smarter because it recognizes the need to do both.
Audience members, many of whom were ardent supports of the federal and statewide Democratic tickets, were very optimistic about Tuesday's outcome.
"When I was young, Virginia was a Democratic state," Ronaoke native June Arthur said. "I really, really want to see it blue again."
Arthur said she has been working with Democracy for America, a group that hopes to turn Virginia blue.
"I think we might be getting there," Arthur said. "It's the best shot we've probably ever had."
Another Roanoke native, Gailen Miles, said she's "been working hard for all of these guys for several months" by making phone calls and running canvassing out of her house. She had 16 people in her home this morning who were ready to knock on doors.
Not only did the region's major city receive political attention -- so did the Obama Campaign for Change office in Blacksburg. Terry McAuliffe, the former chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign who may be running for governor in 2009, stopped in the Democratic headquarters at 2 p.m. to speak with and encourage Obama campaign volunteers.
"Don't sleep," McAuliffe said. "Sleep is overrated. We have got to win this election."
McAuliffe made several predictions about Tuesday's outcome. He said that the House of Representatives will pick up 25 new Democratic seats Tuesday, and the Senate will pick up anywhere from seven to 10 new Democrats.
"If Florida and Virginia go for Obama, it is over," McAuliffe said. "Really, it's up to you. So goes Montgomery County, so goes Virginia."
Contrarily, on the Republican ticket presidential nominee John McCain also stumped in southwest Virginia Monday morning. Along with former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, who's running against Warner for the state's open Senate seat, McCain campaigned in Bristol at 10:10 a.m. Gilmore spent the rest of the day in Newport News and Hampton.
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination, and former Virginia Sen. George Allen, along with other party hotshots, joined the group in Bristol.
"Sen. McCain and Gov. Gilmore have both been doing very well in that area, so it's key to get the voters out," said Ana Gamonal, communication director for the Gilmore campaign. "It is key not only to poll ahead, but that every single McCain supporter and Gilmore supporter go out to the polls."
Gamonal said she is very confident that southwest Virginia will stay red come Tuesday evening.
"That is the heart and soul of Virginia in many ways," Gamonal said. "It's just important that folks get out the vote, and don't let anyone tell them that their vote does not count, because it will."
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