Warner rallies Democratic ticket supporters in Staunton

STAUNTON – Mark Warner said Democrats in Virginia have made enough progress not only to carry him to an expected victory in his U.S. Senate race, but also push Barack Obama over the hump in a closely contested presidential race.

“One of the reasons why I think we’ve made progress is that we’ve shown we can govern,” Warner said Sunday at the Mill Street Grill before an enthusiastic crowd of about 100 supporters, which included four members of the Staunton City Council and Rockingham County Sheriff Don Farley.

Warner has a 30-point lead against Republican Jim Gilmore, while Obama has a slim lead — 47 percent to 44 percent — over Republican John McCain, according to a recent Mason-Dixon poll. Obama is expected to end his campaign today at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas Park with Warner at his side.

Much as he began his campaign more than a year ago, Warner vigorously defended his record as governor while calling for bipartisan solutions to issues such as the economy, energy and bailing out the U.S. auto industry.

Statewide, Warner said he is hearing a common theme.

“People turn to me and say, ‘Governor, does anybody in Washington really want to get stuff done, or is it all about just partisan finger-pointing,’ ” Warner said. “ ‘We’re hurting out here. Somebody – if you get hired, you’ve got to go there and absolutely put our country’s interest first.’ ”

Warner said localities should agree to buy vehicles from U.S. automakers for the next three years in exchange for them agreeing to make those vehicles get at least 100 miles per gallon.

He also called for veterans to receive “first class” health care and education once they return from war, and said he favored energy solutions such as offshore drilling, nuclear energy and clean coal technology.

Warner also said he didn’t believe American taxpayers should have to invest long-term in the country’s financial institutions.

“I think if we’ve got to stabilize them, fine,” Warner said. “But let’s get in, let’s get our money back, let’s get a rate of return. We’ve got to be first in line on that.”

Having spent 20 years in business, Warner said the free enterprise system he grew up with isn’t the same as what is in place now.

“There’s nothing I’ve learned about free enterprise that says some Wall Street guy or some CEO can take away tens [of millions] or hundreds of millions of dollars after they’ve driven their companies into the ditch. I don’t have any problem with folks making money, but they’ve got to perform.”

Warner said he has received support from more than 600 elected officials across the state, about half of them either independents or Republicans.

Normally, at the end of a campaign, Warner said he would tell people that it would be the most important election ever.

“This year we’re not lying,” he said. “I’m 53 years old. I can’t think of a time in my lifetime when more’s at stake in an election cycle. There’s more challenges and opportunities.”

Staunton City Councilman Bruce Elder said it has been “far too easy in these last few months to be heartsick about our economy.” Elder believes the “clear-thinking” Obama and Warner are right for the country, and that they understand its “the fundamental truths” while supporting diversity.

“They know that the goal on Tuesday is not to just win an election,” Elder said. “The task before us is far greater. The task is to reunite this nation, that we once again might have the strongest economy, the best educated children and the healthiest environment.”

And while giving respect to McCain’s service to his country, Warner said Obama is the right choice on Tuesday and is confident in the Illinois senator’s chances.

Scot Carson, of Staunton, said he is hopeful of an Obama win and called Warner’s message Sunday “perfect.”

“He hits it right on the nose for what we’re thinking,” Carson said. “We’re a young family, he’s clicking right there with us, the same with Obama.”

Warner is more confident about his own chances against Gilmore. With big shoes to fill, Warner said, in trying to replace Republican Sen. John Warner, he pointed to his own shoes.

“I think these are pretty big shoes.”