Saturday, October 06, 2007
Editorial: You, sirs, are no Mark Warner
Those are some coattails Mark Warner is sporting. Not only does the Democratic candidate in the 22nd Senate District think Warner can carry him to victory, so too does the Republican, one of the most right-wing candidates our area has ever spawned.
During a forum hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Roanoke, it came as little surprise that Michael Briener would gush that voters often compare him to the popular former governor, much beloved for being a sensible moderate. As shameful as it may be, Democrats can be forgiven for playing the Warner card.
But it was rather surreal for Ralph Smith to portray himself to the gathering as being Warneresque.
Remember the primary? Smith was the Republican Party's answer to complaints that incumbent Brandon Bell wasn't rabid-right enough.
Even weirder: While proclaiming his newly fashioned moderate self, Smith was also recruiting Oliver North to anchor a fundraiser later this month. Now, there's a true centrist.
We know Smith for what he is. He is no Warner: Mark, John or otherwise.
