Burnt Orange Report

Kerry Expands Ads to Virginia

By Byron LaMasters

Is it worth it?

Here's what happened in 2000:

Bush, 1,431,654, 52%
Gore, 1,221,094 45%
Nader 59,270 2%
Browne 15,085 1%

So basically it was a 53% - 47% victory for right-leaning candidates over left-leaning candidates, even though Gore never seriously contested the state. Perhaps this could be a hint that Kerry is considering Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) for his Vice Presidential candidate. However, I see that as highly unlikely. The main advantage to putting Warner on the ticket would be his ability to help self-finance the race (he's a multi-millionaire). But Kerry has been so successful fundraising on his own, that he really doesn't need Warner, who wouldn't bring much else to the ticket, other than creditability in a Republican-leaning swing state. Warner's only been in office since 2002 (elected in 2001), so he makes John Edwards look like a veteran. Virginia is also a good state for Kerry to contest regardless. It has a large military and veteran population that ought to be receptive to Kerry's message. It's GOP leaning, but not overwhelmingly so. Check out this AP article for more info.

Anyway, the AP reports the story. It looks like Bush is pulling back on ads while Kerry is expanding. Bush must be realizing that he'll run out of money if he responds to every Kerry ad. Kerry is going to be up on the air unopposed in Louisiana and Virginia next week. Louisiana is also GOP leaning, but with multiple Democratic candidates (Chris John, John Kennedy) in the primary for the open U.S. Senate seat (which is held on the general election day, Nov. 2), a good Democratic turnout in Louisiana based on strong GOTV opperations by the Senate candidates could give Kerry the needed boost to carry the state. It probably won't happen, but it's good to see Kerry seriously contesting the state.