Richmond, VA - This week, former governor and U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine campaigned across Southside Virginia, sharing his economic vision, getting updates on projects he worked on as governor, and meeting with the grassroots supporters that are powering his campaign.
The day began at EBI, LLC, a subsidiary of Polish-furniture maker Com.40, which Kaine recruited to the area as governor. The manufacturing facility currently employs 500 people. Kaine then visited the new Robertson Bridge which was finally built after Kaine helped secure $28.9 million from the Recovery Act to finance the project. Kaine visited Monogram Snacks in Martinsville where he toured the facility and held an employee town hall before returning to Danville where more than 100 enthusiastic grassroots supporters welcomed him to Southside.
Below is some of the coverage of Kaine’s campaign through Southside:
Danville Register and Bee: “In the middle of what he referred to as the ‘closest Senate race in the United States’ former Gov. Tim Kaine spent the day in Southside on Wednesday. Touring businesses in Danville and Martinsville, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate was able to visit some places that he played a significant role in. Kaine talked with employees of EBI in Danville — a company he helped recruit while he was governor — and stopped by the newly opened Robertson Bridge, which was built with stimulus funds that Kaine funneled to the Dan River Region also while he was governor… ‘We wanted to be here more. We wanted to debate here,’ said Kaine about his Danville visit. Kaine had agreed to a debate in Danville, but Allen had not. Kaine pointed to projects like the bridge and the businesses he recruited as governor as examples of showing Southside voters he will not forget about them if he wins a Senate seat. He said one of the main areas he would focus on as senator would be infrastructure projects in Virginia, like the Robertson Bridge. ‘You hire people right away and you enjoy the fruits of their labor for years after,’ said Kaine on the positive aspects of infrastructure projects. His trip culminated with around 100 people at the Democratic headquarters grand opening on Union Street in Danville. Kaine joined 5th District congressional candidate John Douglass to talk about his plans, contrasting himself to Allen and encourage grassroots efforts from local Democrats. For Danville, a city that can swing blue in elections even in a sea of red, Kaine seems to be touting his economic efforts as governor, which helped bring several businesses to the region.”
WBTM 1330 AM (Danville)—“Former Governor and U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Kaine toured the EBI facility on Kentuck Road Wednesday before stopping to inspect the recently completed Robertson Bridge. Kaine, who's locked in a tight race with Republican George Allen, says he's running on his track record. He touted construction on the Danville Community College, economic development announcements and completion of the new Robertson Bridge as accomplishments realized under his administration. Kaine said he remains committed to Southside and will take that same drive to Washington. Kaine made three stops in Danville and a fourth in Martinsville Wednesday. The appearances come as a recent poll shows Kaine with a lead for the first time in the Senate race. The Washington Post Poll shows Kaine leading Allen among likely voters by 51 percent to 43 percent, and Kaine is ahead among all registered voters by an identical margin. The nationally watched contest could help determine which party will control the chamber.”
Martinsville Bulletin—Monogram Snacks in Martinsville is a success story, according to U.S. Senate candidate and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who was in Martinsville-Henry County on Wednesday seeking support, answering questions and touring the company whose predecessor he helped recruit here. Monogram has a total of 1,200 employees at its four facilities, said Donna Martin, human resources and safety manager at the meat-processing company in the Patriot Centre industrial park in Henry County… ‘In this economy, that you all have added jobs’ is remarkable, Kaine said, before touring various parts of the production operations. Kaine, a Democrat and previous Richmond mayor, said he helped put together the deal to recruit Knauss while he was governor, and is amazed at the progress and growth there since then…Touring the facility, Kaine noted he grew up in a manufacturing family. His father was an iron worker, and Kaine, his mother and remaining siblings worked in the family’s welding shop. There were ‘five employees in a bad year, and seven employees in a good year,’ he said…Kaine said elected officials in Washington must put partisanship aside and work together to help the economy grow faster. He cited his accomplishments while governor, including Forbes naming Virginia as the best state for business four years in a row, and Virginia labeled the ‘best managed state, best state for business and best state to raise a child’ by other publications. He noted that those accomplishments occurred with him, a Democratic governor, working with Republican majorities in the House of Delegates and state Senate. ‘The key to making it happen is working together,’ Kaine said. He added that he is running on his record of working across the aisle to get things accomplished. “I also am a big believer in economic development and investing in infrastructure,” such as roads and bridges, he said. ‘I want to make sure that we protect the commitment we’ve made to Medicare and Social Security,’ and he said he is convinced that education ‘is the key to success.’ ”
WDBJ7—“Infrastructure and education. U.S. Senate candidate told workers today in Danville that is what he can bring to the table to turn around the economy. Kaine spent much of his morning in Southern Virginia making a stop at EBI...Company leaders told Kaine the challenges of teaching and retaining workers from the area. ‘I tend to believe that long term economic success is really tied to the quality of the workforce. So that’s education but it’s also workforce development programs at the community college level. It’s educational institutions, novel institutions like the Institute for Advanced Learning and research here.’ Kaine also put emphasis on increasing transportation access to the area through interstates and road improvements.”
WSET—Democratic Senate nominee Tim Kaine made several stops through the Southside Wednesday. The former governor visited the new Robertson Bridge in Danville and toured a smoked meat company in Henry County. He concluded with the opening of the Democratic Headquarters in Danville where he was joined by 5th District Congressional Candidate John Douglass. Both candidates say they were excited for the chance to visit with voters in Southside. ‘I think Senate candidates ought to stay out here in Southside and talk to voters about the regions particular concerns, and let voters get to know us up close and personal,’ said Kaine.
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