Republicans rally supporters in Lynchburg as Election Day nears

Republican candidate for governor Bob McDonnell, front, speaks at a "Lynchburg Victory Rally" at the Republican Party's Lynchburg headquarters on Wards Road on Friday. He was joined by (background, from left to right) House of Delegates candidate Scott Garrett, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and lieutenant-governor candidate Bill Bolling.

By: Ray Reed | The News & Advance
Published: October 30, 2009

More than 150 Republican activists braved an early-morning drizzle Friday in Lynchburg to hear gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell and Michael Steele, the party’s national chairman, urge them to work for a big voter turnout Tuesday.

Steele joined McDonnell and candidates Bill Bolling for lieutenant governor and Ken Cuccinelli for attorney general in making brief speeches urging party loyalists to work toward getting people to vote.

“We’re going to win on Tuesday,” Steele said, because the party is focused on “job creation, wealth creation, ownership and opportunity.” Democrats, Steele said, are focused on “wealth redistribution and government control and takeover.”

McDonnell delivered a short version of his stump speech, and pointed out that the crowd included military veterans, members of the National Rifle Association and Liberty University’s College Republican club.

“I love Michael Steele. He’s my largest donor,” McDonnell told the crowd. The national Republican Party has contributed $2.25 million to McDonnell’s campaign, according to vpap.org.

Lieutenant Gov. Bill Bolling and attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli joined the top Republicans as they began Friday’s campaigning in Lynchburg before hitting similar stops in four cities later in the day.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte attended the rally, along with local Republican officials. State Sen. Steve Newman, Del. Kathy Byron and Lynchburg House candidate Scott Garrett all worked the crowd.

Cuccinelli boosted Garrett’s candidacy, telling a sizable group of LU’s College Republican club members that they could make the difference for Garrett.

“I’m going to be watching the (Lynchburg) returns” Tuesday night, said Cuccinelli, who is from Fairfax.

“I’m going to be looking at the Heritage precinct,” where Liberty University students will vote, Cuccinelli said.

“I’m going to be seeing how our CRs (College Republicans) at Liberty do in getting folks out, because if they do the job, Scott Garrett’s coming to the House of Delegates,” Cuccinelli said.

Liberty officials say about 3,200 students are registered to vote, and the school plans to run buses to the polling place on Tuesday.