Former Governor Jim Gilmore began his Working Families Tour in Hampton. By July 30th he had arrived at Shenandoah Springs Retreat and B&B in Haywood as he swung through the state in his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
“The race is about two things,” said Gilmore. “Number one is the energy issue. Number two is trust.”
Gilmore spoke in favor of increasing domestic oil and gas production to the enthusiastic crowd assembled at the Haywood campgrounds. His opponent, Democrat Mark Warner was against drilling for oil offshore but now has moved to a Catch-22 position which would allow oil companies to explore for oil even though he still opposes allowing them to drill for it.
A strong supporter of Second Amendment issues, Gilmore is on the board of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Warner has changed his position on gun rights Gilmore said. He reminded Madison voters of the vitriolic denouncement of Christians, the NRA and home schoolers which Warner made on May 25, 1994:“One of the things you are going to see is a coalition that is just about completely taken over the Republican Party in this state and if they have their way it's going to take over state government. It is made up of the Christian Coalition, but not just them. It is made up of the right-to-lifers, but not just them. It's made up of the NRA, but not just them. It is made up of the home schoolers, but not just them. It's made up of a whole coalition of people that have all sorts of differing views that I think most of us in this room would find threatening to what it means to be an American.”
“I made sure home schoolers had an opportunity to be successful,” said Gilmore, who has a long record of fighting for traditional family values.
Gilmore also has family ties to Madison County. His grandparents had a farm at Wolftown which he remembers fondly and his father graduated from Madison County High School.
“Madison is the place where I really want the vote,” said Gilmore. “This is a really important place to me.”
Like this tour, Gilmore’s campaign is geared to appeal to all Virginians.
“Our program is for working people,” Gilmore said emphasizing the values that unite all Virginians.
“I assure you, there are Democrats out there that buy food, have children, and we’re going to get their vote.”
Jim Gilmore with some Madison County supporters
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