GOP stalwarts rally in Valley for McCain

WEYERS CAVE — Some old Republican standbys came to the Shenandoah Valley on Monday to exhort the voters for GOP presidential nominee John McCain in today’s election.

Former Tennessee U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of “Law And Order” television fame played down polls in Virginia and elsewhere showing Democrat Barack Obama ahead.

“We’ve come too far and worked too hard to let a bunch of pollsters and pundits win an election,” said Thompson to a group of cheering McCain supporters at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport.

Thompson said McCain is “a fellow who has had a life of dedication, duty and honor,” while Obama “is the most inexperienced and untested candidate to have come down the pike.”

Former Sen. George Allen, of Virginia, said McCain has the appropriate agenda for America, including reducing taxes for families and for businesses.

“John McCain wants to lower taxes for small businesses while Obama wants to raise them,” Allen said.

Allen said McCain also has a strong program for energy independence that will slash the $700 billion America sends each year to foreign nations for oil.

Allen, who traditionally ran strong in the Shenandoah Valley in his successful gubernatorial and U.S. Senate bids, called on voters to help McCain win Virginia today.

“I am confident the people in the Shenandoah Valley will do as they have over history. They will take a stand for freedom,” Allen said.

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell, a candidate for governor next year, said McCain’s character was evident when he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam and said “no” to captors at the Hanoi Hilton.

“John McCain put his country first,” McDonnell said. “In Iraq, he stood up with courage and said we need to listen to Gen. [David] Petraeus and the troops on the ground.”

McDonnell said Obama lacks the experience to fight a global war on terror. If the Illinois senator is elected today, he will cut defense spending, McDonnell said.

That action could hurt the Virginia economy, particularly in areas such as Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads that depend heavily on defense spending, he said.

“It will devastate the Virginia economy if Obama and [Massachusetts Rep.] Barney Frank cut defense spending,” McDonnell said.

In addition to the stop in Weyers Cave, Thompson, Allen, McDonnell and Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, also stopped at airports in Bristol, Norfolk and Richmond later in the day.