Gilmore makes one last stand

STAUNTON — Republican Jim Gilmore says despite being behind in the polls and in fund-raising a few days before the U.S. Senate election race against Democrat Mark Warner, his run for the office has been an enjoyable one.

“I like being a part of it and I have a lot to offer,’’ Gilmore said late Friday afternoon before a final Shenandoah Valley stop in Waynesboro at the South River Grill.

Gilmore maintains he differs with Warner on a host of issues, including energy independence and federal legislation that would eliminate the secret ballot for employees when joining a union.

Gilmore is adamantly opposed to the union legislation.

He also said “if you want higher taxes in Virginia, vote for Obama, Biden and Warner.”

Gilmore opposed the $700 billion bailout by Congress and said again Friday that the legislation “contained earmarks and pork and was a bad piece of legislation.”

At an earlier stop at Shenandoah Pizza in Staunton, Gilmore said Virginia voters are now focused on the Senate race and he does not think Warner’s advertising advantage will be the difference.

The Democrat has blanketed Virginia television stations with commercials over the past couple of weeks.

“People won’t decide on the basis of a TV commercial,’’ Gilmore said.

In recent days, Gilmore has garnered a number of newspaper endorsements, including those from The News Virginian, The Charlottesville Daily Progress and The Richmond Times Dispatch.

Gilmore said Virginia Republicans are behind his candidacy, despite his capturing only 51 percent of the delegates at the May state convention.

“The core of the party is together. There are no exceptions,’’ he said.

Today, Gilmore will get a boost as he appears with Republican presidential nominee John McCain in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin outside Richmond.

  Gilmore said he has been impressed by the crowds Palin has drawn in Virginia, and of McCain he said “he’s no slouch either.”