Va. Is Next Battleground In Democrats' Long Fight - - big J-J Dinner on Saturday

[jefferson_dem]

Va. Is Next Battleground In Democrats' Long Fight

By Bill Turque and Anne E. Kornblut
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, February 7, 2008; A01

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, digging in for a delegate-by-delegate fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, returned to Washington yesterday with plans to make Tuesday's Virginia primary a major battleground.

Strategists in both campaigns had once regarded Obama (Ill.) as well-positioned to sweep Virginia, Maryland and the District in next week's first-ever regional primary. All three jurisdictions are rich in the African American, upper-income and independent voters who have sustained his campaign.

But advisers to Clinton (N.Y.) are now mapping out a strategy that does not exclude Maryland and the District but focuses heavily on fast-growing outer suburbs such as Prince William and Loudoun counties in Northern Virginia and the state's economically struggling rural southwest, where unemployment is high among white working-class voters.

Clinton, who is scheduled to meet with students at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington County this afternoon, said she is moving "full speed ahead" into the Washington region. Her appearance is part of increasingly frenetic campaigning by candidates in both parties in the area, where the first significant wave of votes since the inconclusive Super Tuesday primaries will be cast.

Obama and Clinton have committed to attending Saturday's Jefferson-Jackson Democratic dinner in Richmond. On the GOP side, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) are scheduled to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference today in the District. Romney is expected to appear at a Republican dinner in Baltimore County this evening.

<SNIP>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/06/AR2008020604500_pf.html

[underpants]

1. Obama as on Amer.Idol and TWO on the UNC-Duke game last night

Hillary probably wouldn't buy time on a basketball game but I haven't seen her anywhere.

Richmond radio this morning
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4455136&mesg_id=4455136

We went ot the J-J dinner last year and saw Obama speak-at the time I can't say that I expected him to be in THIS position a year later. It was a good speech. Good food too.

Hillary I see is picking specific neighborhoods. That is fine but a bigger rally always lends an air of popularity and "attracting a crowd". NoVa will decide this thing unless she really can churn up HUGE numbers out west of Roanoke. I find that hard to believe from what I know

:shrug:

[jefferson_dem]

2. Thanks for the insight, underpants.

I recall, in 2006, Richmond City came in late and like a madman to propel Webb over Senator Macaca. This would seem to be a wellspring for Obama, given how he pulls 80%+ of the African-American vote, eh?

[underpants]

4. Heh!

The city HELD they vote to turn it. There was a bunch of ass chewing (from what I hear) the next day.

I LOVED IT THOUGH


If trands stay as they have been yes Obama will take the city of richmond (70% black) and the 'burbs surrounding Richmond (Repub strongholds) will split. Tidewater has been trending Dem but I don't know for whom in this race. Basically NoVA will decide this. Obama has Gov.Kaine on his side.

[Virginia Dare]

7. Hillary holding a big rally in Arlington today..

so I'm thinking that's where she figures she'll get most of the support. Only common sense I suppose. This is weird, Virginia actually mattering this year. It's hard getting my mind wrapped around it.

[BlackVelvet04]

13. west of Roanoke.....why west of Roanoke?

[underpants]

15. I meant Wise county Tazewell Grayson area

[BlackVelvet04]

17. Thanks.....

I'm not sure I understand that rationale/

I haven't been "home" all that long. I lived in AZ for a long time but am now back in my home state of Virginia.

[underpants]

20. Far West Va has been a target of the Dems for the last few elections

Mark Warner did really well out there and won

Kaine didn't do that great but Kilgore is from Scott county --his mother also is the registrar and she got caught red handed making up voters of course nothing came of it

Most of the rest of the state is pretty set (aside from "soccer moms" in the 'burbs) so working the coal country out there is one of the only things left to do.

[BlackVelvet04]

23. See my post below about changing demographics......

in the last 4 years there has been a HUGE influx of more liberal northerners who are retiring in VA because of the much lower cost of living.

[pdxmom]

3. The farther outside the Beltway Clinton goes, the less she support

she's going to find. I'm not sure her Southwestern strategy is going to work, either. I believe she'll lose the Richmond and Tidewater areas. Prince William and Loudoun may be split, with a lean towards Obama. This is really going to be a tight race.

Despite my username, I'm a born and bred Virginian and can't wait until I can move back home.

[underpants]

5. Hillary may be walking into it in Prince William county

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4455832

If you read the Washington Post this morning http://www.washingtonpost.com /... You will see that Hillary plans to focus her efforts in Prince William County and Loudoun County.
What her campaign doesn't know is that Barack Obama has been endorsed by many of our local political leaders including State Senator Toddy Puller, State Delegate Paul Nichols and the Chair of the PWC Dem. Committee, Pete Frisbie.

What her campaign doesn't know is that the grassroots organization for Barack Obama in Prince William is truly an army now. We have a volunteer base of several hundred deep that have been working and meeting for weeks and yes, even months to get out the vote for Barack.

What her campaign doesn't know is that the volunteer base has unmatched energy and enthusiasm for our next President- Barack Obama. I want to reiterate that these are residents of Prince William who vote here and many are actively involved in the process for the first time.

[thevoiceofreason]

6. Go get 'em

We are organizing rapidly here in Houston. I think we are going to surprise some folks.

[Virginia Dare]

9. Lots of soccer moms and highly educated professional women

in both places...maybe she's taking a shot at them?...:shrug:

[underpants]

10. Oh yeah she is

They boil it all down mostly to that group (saying the DLC and most pol experts) without really trying to reach out to anyone else.

We'll see. It is funny having Va. matter.

[pdxmom]

11. I'm from Prince William - the Woodbridge end - and was talking to

my mom this morning about it. She says it'll be a long haul there for Clinton. Folks there aren't easily led.

[Perky]

19. Have you guys even seen a Hillary Bumpersticker. I live in Springfield

And I have not seen a single one.

[Virginia Dare]

8. We welcome you back home to Virginny anytime pdx!...

we're going bluer and bluer as time goes by!

[pdxmom]

12. Thanks. I miss living there so much. Been out here about 14 years now, and

can't wait to get back. Living in the bluest of blue cities, I'll happily move back and bring lots of progressive ideas. Only 6 years until retirement, then I'm there.

[BlackVelvet04]

14. I disagree abotu the Tidewater area....

Norfolk will probably back Obama, but Virginia Beach, I don't think so.

[underpants]

16. Va. Beach is hard far right

they not only vote Republican they bankroll a lot of the Republican activities (Ollie North for instance) no they will not vote for Hillary. Norfolk will.

[BlackVelvet04]

18. It's also very military

oriented and they support the war.

My sister says there's a lot of support in VA Beach for Hillary and she voted republican the last 3 or 4 elections. She and her husband are voting for Hillary and she says she's hearing a lot of that.

We'll see.

[underpants]

21. Hmm

if any Dem picks up votes at the Beach the Republicans are in big country

[BlackVelvet04]

22. I found it very interesting...

when my sister said she and her husband will both be voting for Hillary. She said she's hearing a lot more of that than people saying they will vote for Obama.

Virginia is rapidly changing demographics wise. Virginia is seen as a great retirement spot for northerners because our cost of living (especially housing) is so much lower so we have a lot of more liberal transplants every year. Look at the Smith Mountain Lake area outside of Roanoke. Also, 50+ percent of Virginians are female and only 19.3% are black.

[jenmito]

25. Then why does Obama get the most contributions from our troops?

[rodeodance]

24. SO, THE big question is: WILL OBAMA SHAKE HILL"s HAND?--OR BE AFRAID ONCE AGAIN??

[jefferson_dem]

26. ...

Stupid. Scram.

[rodeodance]

28. You afraid to answer my question?

[jefferson_dem]

29. Why do you think everyone is "afraid" of this and that?

Get over it.

[rodeodance]

30. Nothing of the sort--I asked you a question but you go off. tsk tsk bye

[NOVA_Dem]

27. I think Obama is going to take N. VA

Given the demographics, it fits the profile of his supporters. Given all of the government workers and contractors I think he is positioned to do very well. I'm in Alexandria and many of my co-workers and friends are voting for Obama.