Richmond, VA - Former governor and U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine spent a full day in Hampton Roads today thanking volunteers for their hard work for his campaign, outlining his strategies to grow the economy and create jobs, and discussing the clear choice in the November election.
In Chesapeake, Kaine joined congressional candidate Ella Ward to thank more than 40 canvassers who had knocked on doors to talk with their friends and neighbors about what’s at stake in the election. Kaine reminded volunteers how important their one on one conversations were in the face of millions of dollars of negative ads. It was reported this week that Kaine has had more outside, secret money spent against him than any other candidate in the country, with the exception of President Barack Obama.
“The work you all do and have done is critical to our success on Election Day and it will show the few large donors who thought they could influence this election just by writing big checks that they’re wrong,” said Kaine. “Virginians want someone to look them in the eye and tell them what they’ll do as a U.S. senator. That’s what I’ve done in this campaign and that’s what I’m counting on you to do with your friends and family over the next ten days.”
Kaine also outlined his forward looking strategies to grow the economy and contrasted them with George Allen’s plans to go back to the policies that helped damage the American economy.
“I governed in the worst national recession in 70 years but we earned accolades like Forbes’ Best State for Business and kept our unemployment rate one of the lowest in the nation by pursuing strategies that tackled the tough fiscal challenges and positioned our Commonwealth for future economic growth. George Allen had a different strategy that maxed out the nation’s credit card and helped cause our economic collapse,” said Kaine. “To grow the economy in the short and the long term I have a forward looking strategy that includes leveling the playing field for small businesses, investing in infrastructure and education, and reducing the deficit in a balanced way.”
In the afternoon, Kaine traveled to Norfolk where he attended the Old Dominion University football game with Mayor Paul Fraim and then traveled to Suffolk to meet with a roomful of supporters where he discussed the importance of cooperation and partnership in Congress.
“Whether it’s a family or a PTA or a Boy Scout troop, if you’re a part of a group you have to know how to compromise. If I go to the Senate I’m going to use the skills I gained as a mayor and a governor to build relationships and ties with members of both parties to move the country forward,” said Kaine. “Right now, Virginia faces looming defense cuts that are partly a product of Congress’ inability to work together. I’ve laid out a middle road, bipartisan plan to avoid these cuts and will continue to take that approach with all the issues that face our country and our Commonwealth.”
Kaine ended the day by joining supporters to watch football at Roger Brown’s in Portsmouth. Today’s events in Hampton Roads are just the latest of hundreds of events Kaine has held across the Commonwealth where he has had thousands of conversations with Virginians about what’s at stake in this election.
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