McClellan on Kaine victory.

Posted byWaldo Jaquith 7 Comments on McClellan on Kaine victory.

In today’s press briefing, presidential spokesman Scott McClellan was met with a barrage of questions about Governor Elect Tim Kaine’s victory last night. Reporters wanted to know if President Bush is disappointed with Jerry Kilgore’s loss, if he must shoulder some of the blame due to his Monday-night appearance with Kilgore, and if he’s dragging down Republicans nationally.

McClellan was unwilling to answer the questions directly, which is telling. Here are some interesting bits:

Q: Is he disappointed in Kilgore’s loss?

McCLELLAN: Well, he congratulates the winners. That’s the way I would express it. The President campaigned for Jerry Kilgore, he campaign for Lieutenant Governor-Elect Bolling, and he campaigned for the attorney general candidate, as well.

[…]

Q: So you think the President helped the Kilgore campaign, ultimately?

McCLELLAN: The President was glad to go and do his part. I think that the election was decided based on state and local issues, and based on the candidates and their agendas. That’s what I think. And I think that if you look at the facts, that points that out, as well, because those campaigns were run based on the issues that I pointed out, and based on those candidates’ views and their agenda. And he is pleased to see that the Lieutenant Governor is now going to be a Republican in Virginia.

Q: His presence was discounted, basically, he didn’t hurt or help Kilgore?

McCLELLAN: He was glad to go in there and do his part to help in that campaign. And he congratulates Tim Kaine for winning, and congratulates Governor-elect Corzine on his victory. And he congratulates Lieutenant Governor Bolling on his victory. And he congratulates all the other candidates that won.

The theme of McClellan’s answers is this: It’s OK that a Democrat won, because he’s basically a Republican. Which is funny, because that’s entirely the opposite of what Republicans have been saying about Kaine for the past year — they’ve long insisted that Kaine is the most lihbrul candidate to run for the governorship in Virginia history.

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »

7 replies on “McClellan on Kaine victory.”

  1. I don’t think that that was McClellan’s theme. I assume you are refering to: “[a]nd he is pleased
    to see that the Lieutenant Governor is now going to be a Republican in Virginia.” I think that is
    a reference to Bill Bolling, not Tim Kaine (LTG going from D to R).

  2. Actually, I was referring to a pair of exchanges that I didn’t excerpt. Twice he describes Kaine as being out of step with the Democratic Party, once specifically citing issues that McClellan argues are Republican issues. The implication seems to be that it’s really a win for conservatism and, thus, Republicans while simultaneously a loss for Democrats, because a Democrat in name only has been elected as governor.

  3. Oh. Sorry.

    BTW, there was a voter correction in Roanoke. Deeds is now only down by 1,480.
    Probably still goes to McDonell, but it would be nice to drag the Regent grad sub 50%…

  4. Well, I think it’s sillier than that. Did, indeed, George W. Bush, Leader of the Free World (according to some White House staff, even) rush back from Central America and schedule a near midnight–well past his typical bedtime–rally in order to secure the lieutenant governership for Bolling? Would he, or Scotty, even know Bolling’s first name? (Fine follow-up question, that.) Or any single stance that would define Bolling’s political philosophy, a philosophy that demanded Bush’s intervention in the Bolling-Byrne contest? Will Bush take credit and interest in other down-ticket races? That’s particularly important given that Charlottesville has decided for elected school boards and the C’ville GOP might see if Air Force One is available as a campaign stage prop–Bush got real good at using his helicopters and Air Force One to backdrop his 2004 campaign–to put their slate over the top in that nationally-critical election.

  5. What? A WH Press Secretary spinning things and giving nonanswers? This is truly a novelty, a once in a lifetime event. You’re more likely to see Haley’s Comet twice than this.

    C’mon Waldo, gimme something I can use instead of the inevitable GOP spin. What was polling like in C’ville? What’s the future of winners and losers in the area?

  6. What? A WH Press Secretary spinning things and giving nonanswers? This is truly a novelty, a once in a lifetime event. You’re more likely to see Haley’s Comet twice than this.

    Ah, but he’s spinning and giving nonanswers about our very own gubernatorial election. That’s news. :)

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