Looking at local elections, former governors Jim Gilmore (Republican) and Mark Warner (Democrat) are campaigning for the Virginia Senate seat. Mark Warner was a popular and successful governor that actually had a hand in adding more blue to the rather red, Republican state of Virginia. Warner had greatly helped in developing and improving the state’s budget situation. Jim Gilmore was the governor before Mark Warner that promised an end to the tax imposed on personal motor vehicles, cutting taxes some. Both governors were temporarily running for presidency but their presidential campaigns didn’t last very long.
The two candidates are focusing largely on fiscal stewardship in the Senate race—where the issue atop is tax. Gilmore claimed that he had abolished the car tax, but the tax is still collected by cities and counties even today. His attempt at completely rolling back the car tax was interrupted by the economic decline and conflict with fellow Republicans. These increasing costs eventually lead to the cash crunch, also fueled by 9-11 back in 2001. Warner was able to vastly improve the state budget once he got into office (January 2002) which was doing terrible. Warner did increase taxes, the largest increase in tax in the history of Virginia; but his tax cut was one of the biggest tax cuts of the state.
Television ads by the two former governors attack each other about their support of the next president. Gilmore claims that Warner would support higher federal taxes if Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, were to win the presidency. In one advertisement, Gilmore tries to persuade voters into believing that Warner broke his promise not to raise taxes (which were raised by $1.4 billion). He also claims his fortunes are linked to Republican presidential nominee, John McCain.
The race forecast leans more toward the Democrats (candidate Mark Warner). Recent polls done show that Warner has an average of a 28.8% lead. A poll done by SurveyUSA on October 4th-5th again has Warner leading (this time with a 30% lead). Warner resulted with 61% whereas Republican Jim Gilmore had 31%. However, a poll done by Suffolk on October 3rd-5th resulted in Warner with 57% and Gilmore 31%. Warner had a 32% lead.
It seems like many Virginians feel Democrat Mark Warner, who delivered a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention back in August, is the more viable, practical runner for the position. The U.S. Senate race for Virginia general election is scheduled to take place November 4th, 2008, the same day as the presidential election.
Source: CQ Politics
4 comments:
Nice blog Ravneet! Its very thorough and you covered a lot of information about the issues and the candidates. What I also like is how you mentioned the television ads, that's not something a lot of people mentioned in their blogs. I think the fact that Warner was a keynote speaker at the convention has a lot of influence on this election. Looks to me like he's definitely going to win. Good job!
Mot people did their blogs on the Virginia Senate Election, but I think yours is by far on of the best! You went beyond the criteria and explained so much more about the candidates and the issues. I like how you acknowledged the campaign commercials (which I haven't paid much attention too) and the issues that each candidate has. I'm glad Mark Warner has a advantage in this race.
Hey Ravneet!
I haven't noticed the Warner and Gilmore advertisements before, but I am amazed that even smaller candidates attract negative campaigning. I also had no idea that Gilmore had failed to get rid of the car taxes. Thanks for the info and great job
Casey
i agree that the two former governors are the major contenders. The tax information is very interesting as the economy is a major concern. The polls do show Warner with a lead, but i think that is simply because he was a more recent governor, he was also successful and one of the reasons Virginia is turning democrat.
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