BEDFORD — In something of an unusual development, Bedford city and county Democrats opened a local party headquarters office Thursday with speeches from two congressional candidates who assured everyone this is the year “to turn Virginia blue.”
With enthusiasm running strong among party workers for Mark Warner’s Senate campaign and Barack Obama’s presidential bid, Sam Rasoul of Botetourt County told the small crowd that “all I need is 50 percent plus one” to unseat Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte in the 6th district, which includes northern Bedford County.
Tom Perriello of Albemarle County told the local party faithful and young campaign workers that “we are playing this on a different level than we have in the past” by opening an office on Main Street that was festooned with posters for the four candidates they hope will sweep into office in November.
Perriello is running against Rep. Virgil Goode in the 5th District, which crosses southern Bedford County to connect Goode’s local offices in Charlottesville and Rocky Mount.
Rodney Browne, vice chairman of the county’s Democratic Party, said city and county activists were delighted with their office’s location.
“This is going to be a significant election, so we needed something that would be a statement,” Browne said. “I really think we can do it this year.”
Rasoul, who turned 27 in June, said in an interview that “I’m the youngest congressional candidate in the country on either side.” He started campaigning about 18 months ago, putting his name on roadside signs near Roanoke.
Rasoul and his wife own three small businesses, he said, including a video store, a health club and a real estate office.
One of his goals, Rasoul said, is to kick lobbyists out of Washington and restore the voice of the people to power. He and his workers plan to knock on 100,000 doors in the next 85 days to proclaim his goals, Rasoul said.
Perriello’s campaign includes a faith-based message rooted in his Catholic belief.
“It really feels like we are near the dawn of a revival in the idea of public service,” Perriello told the crowd. He and his campaign staff plan to spend 10 percent of their time working on community projects such as Habitat for Humanity houses, Perriello said.
“Washington, at some point, started to serve special interests,” Perriello said.
“Our generation has believed in community service,” Perriello said, but most people choose to serve through civic groups instead of government because “Washington seemed like a place where good ideas go to die.”
Now, Perriello said, younger adults are “reviving the greatest generation’s idea of community service.”
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