Our candidate for U.S. Senate, former Governor Mark Warner, will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday August 26, 2008, in Denver, Colorado at the Democratic National Convention. The keynote address is the same high profile speech which propelled Senator Barack Obama into the national spotlight in 2004. The broadcast will be seen by millions around the country. According to Senator Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe, “Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving. It’s that kind of spirit and innovation that resulted in his selection as keynote speaker on a night when the Convention program will focus on renewing America’s economy.”
After becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama made his first general election appearance in Southwest Virginia on Thursday June 5, 2008. Senator Obama appeared at a town hall meeting at Virginia High in Bristol, Virginia before approximately 2,500 supporters. Senator Obama sent a clear message that Southwest Virginia and the entire state are in play for the general election this fall.
Senator Obama said that Southwest Virginia is an example of so much that is good about this county. He also said that there are good, hard working, decent, generous people in beautiful towns all around this region but Washington hasn’t been paying attention and hasn’t been listening. During his remarks, Senator Obama emphasized his plans to provide comprehensive healthcare to all Americans.
The Obama campaign invited the Chairman of the Buchanan County Democratic Committee, Vern Presley, to drive Senator Obama’s staff to and from Tri-Cities Airport for the town hall meeting. Presley spent most of the day with Senator Obama and his staff during the Southwest Virginia visit. Senator Obama is clearly interested in our region and concerns. In fact, no major political party candidate has visited Southwest Virginia in almost fifty years. If he wasn’t your first choice to change the mess we have in Washington, Senator Obama certainly deserves the full support of our party since he sent a clear message with his visit that we actually matter.
Democratic delegates from the Ninth District convened at Auburn Hills High School on May 17, 2008, in Riner, Virginia and unanimously nominated Congressman Rick Boucher as the democratic candidate to the U.S. House of Representatives for the general election this fall. Congressman Boucher is vying for his 14th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
According to a report recently completed by the respected, non-partisan Congress.org, Congressman Boucher is ranked the 11th most effective member of the 435 member United States House of Representatives. In addition, the organization recognized Boucher as the most effective member of Virginia’s Congressional Delegation. As of the date of this posting, Congressman Boucher is unopposed.
