Northern Virginia Delegates to Dem Convention Insist State is 'In Play'

BOSTON — Northern Virginia delegates to the Democratic National Convention last week insisted that Virginia qualifies among the ranks of "battleground states" for the November election, citing that the decision by the John Kerry for President forces to open at least two campaign offices in the state as evidence. One of the offices is in Merrifield, the other in Richmond.

Virginia has not gone for a Democrat in a national presidential election since 1964, but News-Press interviews in Boston with delegates from this area drew assurances that this time could be different. Rep. Jim Moran told the News-Press that the Tidewater area of the state will be key, with a strong turnout from military ranks for Kerry on the basis of his own strong military record and on the basis of President Bush's ill-advised handling of the situation in Iraq, both prior to and since the U.S.-led invasion.

Still, Moran said, it is the ability to "get out the vote" in the heavily Democratic areas of the state — namely, Northern Virginia and Richmond — that will be decisive.

"Virginia has a legitimate chance," Falls Church's State Delegate Jim Scott told the News-Press. "I can't remember the last time a Democrat has opened a presidential campaign office in this state."

He recalled that the margin was "single digits" in the 2000 election here, and that i the past, Democrats have "mistakenly overlooked" the potential in Virginia.

"Never before have I seen so many people saying they're Republicans but that they can't stand Bush as I do now," Scott added, "and the momentum is building. Polls are giving Democrats a significant opportunity. People do not feel the country is going in the right direction now."

Scott added, "I haven't seen the party as energized as it is now. There's more electricity, more intensity, and its reflected in the incredible fundraising that's been gong on."

Virginia Governor Mark Warner, addressing the convention on its final day, cited his own election in 2001 as evidence that Virginia could go for a Democrat this November. Warner's election as governor was the first in over a decade for a Democrat.

In his comments to the News-Press, Rep. Moran also spoke to the mood of the party. "I see a lot more optimism and determination than I saw four years ago. Compared to some complacency in 2000, we now realize how much is at stake and how badly things can go when the base doesn't work hard enough," he said. "We now know that the other side is capable of doing almost anything to keep office."

Virginia State Delegate Adam Ebbin, whose district includes the Bailey's Crossroads section of Falls Church, attended the convention not as a delegate but as a member of its Credentials Committee. "Virginia is considered as a possibility of being in play in November," he told the News-Press, noting that Kerry has already paid attention here with personal appearances at events in Norfolk and Alexandria.

"Northern Virginia has a huge potential to build a margin for Kerry statewide," he added. "People are more eager to vote now. Kerry can carry Fairfax County, and it is only a matter of how big margins can be built in Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church."

"Keys to carrying the state for Kerry will be the military community in Hampton Roads, the impact of Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards from neighboring North Carolina in Southwest Virginia and, and the `get out the vote' effort in Northern Virginia," he said.

Among the Northern Virginia delegates at the convention were Rep. Moran, Fairfax County board chair Gerald Connally and former board chair Kate Hanley, Alexandria Mayor William Euille, Del. Scott, Del. Brian Moran from Alexandria, Arlington County Board member Walter Tejada, and 8th District party honchos Mame Reiley and Margo Horner and Firefighters leader Patrick Morrison. McLean's James Socos, a challenger for the 10th District Congressional seat in Virginia, was not a delegate, but was invited to address the convention Thursday, and Arlington's 18 year old Adam Parkhomenko also was not a delegate, but was on hand to further the efforts of her boss, New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner was a delegate in addition to a speaker at the convention, while Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, his party's likely nominee for governor next year, was on hand.

"In Virginia, we Democrats are the party of balanced budgets, a fairer tax code and a stronger economic future," Warner said in his speech. "If we can do it in Virginia, we can do it in America...This year, with old fashioned values and new ideas, Virginia stands ready to help send John Kerry to the White House."