Monday, March 30, 2009
Mike Huckabee helps Bob McDonnell with campaign kickoff in Roanoke
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell brought his campaign kick-off tour through Roanoke this afternoon with a luncheon and press conference at the downtown Shenandoah Club.
Accompanied by former Arkansas governor and GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, McDonnell stressed general campaign themes such as growing jobs, fixing the economy, strengthening higher education, improving transportation, and keeping taxes low.
“I want to be known as the energy governor,” he said, making Virginia “the energy capital of America.” He emphasized the state’s coal reserves and its potential for off-shore oil and gas drilling.
Although McDonnell, who resigned as state attorney general in February, has been recognized as the consensus GOP candidate for months, he didn’t officially begin his campaign until Saturday.
He acknowledged that the race will likely see lots of national news coverage –- Huckabee himself is the host of a weekly talk show on Fox News Channel – because only Virginia and New Jersey are holding elections for governor this year.
Each may be seen as a referendum on President Barack Obama’s early performance, as well as of the actions of the Democrat-controlled Congress.
Although Huckabee blasted every proposed version of a national economic stimulus package, McDonnell was more circumspect, saying he thought the state should take its portion of that money.The candidate was critical, however, of Congress’ rush to pass the massive piece of legislation and said he worried that some portions of it would create “unfunded mandates” that the state would be forced to pay for in the future.
McDonnell, nearly always wearing a smile, joked that his campaign will still be fresh and flush with money come fall, while he expects whoever his Democratic opponent is to be “tired and broke” after an intense struggle among three candidates for that party’s nomination in a June primary.
Accompanied by former Arkansas governor and GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, McDonnell stressed general campaign themes such as growing jobs, fixing the economy, strengthening higher education, improving transportation, and keeping taxes low.
“I want to be known as the energy governor,” he said, making Virginia “the energy capital of America.” He emphasized the state’s coal reserves and its potential for off-shore oil and gas drilling.
Although McDonnell, who resigned as state attorney general in February, has been recognized as the consensus GOP candidate for months, he didn’t officially begin his campaign until Saturday.
He acknowledged that the race will likely see lots of national news coverage –- Huckabee himself is the host of a weekly talk show on Fox News Channel – because only Virginia and New Jersey are holding elections for governor this year.
Each may be seen as a referendum on President Barack Obama’s early performance, as well as of the actions of the Democrat-controlled Congress.
Although Huckabee blasted every proposed version of a national economic stimulus package, McDonnell was more circumspect, saying he thought the state should take its portion of that money.The candidate was critical, however, of Congress’ rush to pass the massive piece of legislation and said he worried that some portions of it would create “unfunded mandates” that the state would be forced to pay for in the future.
McDonnell, nearly always wearing a smile, joked that his campaign will still be fresh and flush with money come fall, while he expects whoever his Democratic opponent is to be “tired and broke” after an intense struggle among three candidates for that party’s nomination in a June primary.
