Roused GOP set for run to tape

VERONA – The barbecue tasted good at Sixth District Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s Verona picnic Saturday for statewide Republican and area House of Delegates candidates because the latest polls have all three members of the statewide ticket with healthy leads over their Democratic opponents.

But Saturday’s celebration at the Augusta County Government Center was tempered by caution.

While Republicans like gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling think they know why the Republicans are leading, their message to about 400 Republicans Saturday was not to get complacent.

“We’re in the fourth quarter with four to five mintues left and we can’t stop playing now,’’ said Bolling.

Before the picnic, Bolling said it is better to be ahead than behind, and he said the Republican campaign is resonating with the public because it is one focusing on creating jobs and the economy.

“Our opponents’ campaign is devoid of ideas. People don’t care about 20-year-old term papers and divisive social issues,’’ Bolling said of issues that have surfaced against McDonnell during the campaign.

In a reference to some of the sruggles current Gov. Timothy Kaine has faced, McDonnell asked the crowd if they want the same government philosophy continued that has led to budget shortfalls, 6.5 percent unemployment in Virginia and increased college tuitions.

He said Republicans believe “in a free enterprise system, respect for the rule of law, and creating opportunity for people to use their God-given talents to pursue the American dream.”

McDonnell said if elected, he will keep taxes and regulation low and offer incentives to attract industry as well as making Virginia the energy capital of the East Coast.

The candidate also promised more money in K-12 classrooms and 100,000 new degrees in Virginia colleges and universities.

Allison Jaslow, communications director for the Democratic Party of Virginia, said the party is not concerned about polls.

While the latest ones show Democrat Creigh Deeds trailing McDonnell by 8 points, Jaslow said Deeds was down 23 points at a similar time in last spring’s Democratic primary.

She said McDonnell’s stump speech does not match a legislative record that includes votes against the Governor’s Opportunity Fund and investments in education.

And she noted that Deeds co-authored the bill that led to the Governor’s Opportunity Fund.

Other speakers at Saturday’s picnic made reference to the changes in Washington under President Obama.

Goodlatte, R-Va., told the crowd to get in touch with Va. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb because they will soon have to cast critical votes about health care reform.

Del. Steve Landes, facing a contested race for his 25th District House seat, said his door-to-door visits with constituents have told him “we can’t allow the same direction for the commonwealth of Virginia’’ that Washington is taking.

“People want us to go back for the practical and common sense solutions,’’ Landes said.