Clark in Virginia: 'Time For Change'
Also on October 22, Clark made two stops in Virginia, campaigning for Obama. His event in Roanoke is covered by the Roanoke Times, which also covers Ethel Kennedy in the state. The Daily News Record in Harrisonburg gives more extensive coverage (see the front page as published here). Full story and photo after the jump.
Clark: 'Time For Change'
Posted 2008-10-23
Retired General Says Obama's 'New Ideas' Will Work For America
By Jeremy Hunt
HARRISONBURG - As further evidence of Virginia's status as a battleground state, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign brought in another high-profile supporter to stump for him.
Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, who ran for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, campaigned for the Illinois senator Wednesday night in Harrisonburg.
"It's time for change in America," Clark told a friendly crowd of about 250 at Court Square Theater. "It's time for some new ideas and new people to bring those ideas into America."
Clark told the crowd that Obama has the vision needed to fix the country's problems, which he laid at the feet of the current Bush administration.
Four Crises In Eight Years
Clark said there have been four crises involving the United States while President Bush has been in office.
The first one, the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, could have been prevented, Clark said, but the administration did not heed the warning signs.
Clark also criticized the Republican president's handling of three other crises: the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, and the current economic situation.
Clark said Obama has a "responsible" plan for getting out of Iraq and a better understanding of dealing with terrorism abroad.
Obama's economic plan, including a promise to invest $150 billion in alternative energy resources over 10 years, would help the economy grow and create new jobs, Clark said.
'Re-Energized'
On Wednesday, Clark said Obama can win the election, but supporters need to "go out and speak with people in a nonpartisan way."
Stephen McDonnell, who attended the event, said he was glad Clark advocated nonpartisan campaigning.
"You don't get people to change by telling them they're wrong," he said. "It's about pointing out things that don't work."
Kevin Wilborn said Clark's speech reinforced his trust in the Democratic candidate.
"It re-energized me," he said "why I feel Barack Obama is ready to be commander in chief."
Purple Virginia
Both the Democratic and GOP presidential campaigns have been trying to drum up support in Virginia by bringing big names to the state.
Virginia has been reliably Republican for decades, as the last time the state voted for a Democratic presidential candidate was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
The latest SurveyUSA poll had Obama ahead of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by 6 points in Virginia, although other polls show the race much closer.
On Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was in Harrisonburg to stump for McCain. Graham's visit to the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County GOP headquarters also featured Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke.
Graham scoffed at Obama's poll lead, saying "I believe I will be drafted by the NFL before Obama wins Virginia."
