Warner

Warner, Obama supporters hit the streets to build excitement for Democrats

BY EDIE GROSS

Date published: 7/28/2008

BY EDIE GROSS

A gaggle of volunteers sporting Mark Warner and Barack Obama stickers crowded around Keauna Gregory Saturday as she ticked off the rules for canvassing neighborhoods.

Steer clear of big, angry dogs.

Stay off people's lawns.

And smile often.

"Always be positive and energized. The voters are going to take their cues from our enthusiasm," said Gregory, the regional field director for Virginia Victory '08, a campaign supporting Democrats. "We're excited, right? We're going to take the White House in November."

The whooping and hollering inside Warner's U.S. Senate campaign office on Lafayette Boulevard was deafening.

And not for the last time.

Former Gov. Warner himself strode in moments later and signed in as a campaign volunteer before whipping up the troops.

"Come January 2009, we're going to have the chance to get the country back on the right track," said Warner, who faces Republican former Gov. Jim Gilmore for the seat vacated by retiring Sen. John Warner.

"We've got to restore America's standing in the world. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for America to once again be viewed as one of the good guys."

If elected, Warner said, he would organize the "radical centrists," a group of senators from both parties seeking to improve the economy, decrease dependence on foreign oil and address environmental concerns.

"Unless we can find some common cause with Democrats, Republicans and independents, we're not going to get the change we need," he said to applause.

About 60 canvassers snagged bottled water and greased up with sunscreen before hitting the streets. Similar events took place in 22 other Virginia communities yesterday as part of the Democrats' 100-day push before Election Day.

The volunteers pressed into Warner's office represented a mix of campaign veterans and fresh faces from all parties.

Dave Martin, a Republican from Monterey, Calif., was in Fredericksburg visiting his son. He said he likes Democratic presidential candidate Obama because his platform crosses party lines.

He planned to go door-to-door yesterday with his son and a friend on behalf of both Obama and Warner.

"I'm not big on divisiveness," he said. "I'm big on getting people together to get things done."

Phone-bank veteran Conrad Chaffee drove down from Arlington for his first canvass, pairing up with Fredericksburg resident Carol Buffum for a long morning of walking.

"I'm just doing it as an exercise program. Pilates and yoga weren't working for me," he joked.

Karen Pitts has been calling voters on behalf of candidates since 1982. The response this year has been overwhelming, she said.

"This is, to me, the most gratifying it's ever been," said the Spotsylvania County resident. "People are really beginning to understand what's at stake."

Caroline County resident Yvonne Jerry took Gregory's message to heart, pledging to keep a smile on her face no matter what.

"I hope they will be positive," the first-time canvasser said of the residents she planned to visit. "If not, that's OK. They have a right to their opinion. But I'm going to give them the energy, and I hope they'll receive it."

Edie Gross: 540/374-5428
Email: egross@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 7/28/2008

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