Mark Warner - U.S. Senate

Call for Fall Interns

Our summer interns are about to leave us and now we’re looking for interns to help us out this fall! We’re looking for interns in our campaign headquarters in Alexandria, as well as interns for our regional offices around the state.

Interns will work closely with the campaign staff to further our campaign. Strong candidates will have the ability to work dynamically with a team, have no apprehensiveness about hard work, and must be committed to Governor Warner’s efforts. We prefer interns who are available to work full time, but part-time applicants will be considered.

These internships are unpaid, but nothing can compare to the first-hand experience that will be gained. To apply, email your resume and cover letter to resume@markwarner2008.com.

Oysters in the Rappahannock

On Sunday, Governor Warner traveled to the Northern Neck to meet with representatives of the oyster industry – an industry that has seen a drastic decline in the oyster population due to disease and over-harvesting. Traveling by boat out into the Rappahannock River, Governor Warner was shown firsthand what efforts a local business, the Rappahannock River Oyster Company, is taking to strengthen the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay.

Accompanied by experts from the Virginia Institute for Marine Science (VIMS), the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Delegate Albert Pollard, Governor Warner learned how the Rappahannock River Oyster Company employs aquaculture, an environmentally safe method, to harvest their oysters.

Governor Warner also toured the VIMS Kauffman Center, a cutting-edge laboratory that explores and promotes the development of aquaculture and is specifically designed to hold both native and non-native species in quarantine. Members of the Virginia Seafood Council, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Thomas Kellum of Kellum Seafood Company, and representatives of Bevans Oyster Company and Cowart Seafood Corporation accompanied the Governor on the tour.

Governor Warner also joined more than 80 supporters at a “meet-n-greet.” The audience included the state’s former Secretary of Natural Resources Tayloe Murphy and his wife, Helen, along with Scott and Kathy Kauffman (the Kauffman Center is named after Jack Kauffman, Scott’s father).

With so many of the stakeholders in the oyster industry present, Governor Warner said he was glad to see that the public and private sectors are continuing to work together to preserve one of Virginia’s most valuable resources – the Chesapeake Bay oyster.

Governor Warner concluded his remarks with this:

“The Northern Neck is one of Virginia’s treasures, and as Governor, I was proud to make the largest investment ever in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. If I have the privilege of becoming your next Senator, I will always fight to protect the Bay.”

Traveling Through Southside

On Friday, Governor Warner and congressional candidate Tom Pierriello addressed about 100 supporters at the Old Virginia BBQ in Rocky Mount. The Fifth District voters expressed concerns about the nation’s energy crisis and the struggling economy, and Governor Warner told them about his comprehensive plan to break our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

The Franklin News Post was there.

From there, Governor Warner went to Gretna, where he toured Piedmont Biofuels, a plant that is working on a community-based way to produce “green gasoline.”

The experiments they are conducting could yield the next generation of biofuels. They use a variety of nonfeed-crops to produce their “green” gasoline. So far, they have produced green coal and green oil, and are working to develop a way to have these facilities all over of the state, each that can serve their local area with sustainable fuel for their communities.

Governor Warner used Piedmont as an example of the type of facility that we should promote as part of a portfolio approach to addressing our nation’s energy crisis. It is one of several new facilities in Virginia that could create jobs and lead the way in producing renewable, clean energy supplies.

Governor Warner then visited Danville, where he visited the Corning Plant, where they produce all sorts of glass products, including glass for iPods and ceramics for military usage.

From there, Governor Warner went to the Cantaloupe Festival at the Halifax County Fairgrounds.

Here are some of the pictures from Friday:

Jam-Packed Day in Southwest VA

After his round table discussion in Roanoke on Thursday, the Governor made his way through Craig, Giles, Bland, and Pulaski Counties, and ended the day at Floyd County’s Floyd Fest.

In Newcastle, Del. Jim Shuler led Governor Warner on a tour around the Craig County Courthouse before he stopped by the “Mick-or-Mack” grocery store to greet and chat with customers. One woman was on the phone with her sister, a huge fan of Governor Warner’s, and the Governor took the phone and thanked her for her support.

On his way to Pearisburg, Governor Warner stopped by Tangent Outfitters in Pembroke, a gas station/store/restaurant that also runs fishing/boating/hiking/biking trips. While the Governor grabbed lunch he got a chance to talk to some of the other diners that were there. The owner, Sean Hash, was appointed to the State Tourism Board by Governor Warner.

Once he got to Pearisburg, Mayor Barbara Stafford and Giles County Administrator Chris McKlarney took Governor Warner on a tour of the Giles County Courthouse and took him through Main Street Pearisburg, where they stopped by a slew of local shops and a couple of restaurants.

After the Main Street walk, we visited ABB, which manufactures electrical transformers. In 2003, Governor Warner announced an expansion of the facility that created 75 new jobs. Now, ABB is one of Bland County’s largest employers, with over 410 employees. He got a briefing from management, then met employees during a shift-change, and toured the plant facility.

On his way to Pulaski, Governor Warner stopped by the Bland County Courthouse, where he met Commonwealth Attorney Clinton Kegley. On his way out, he popped his head into a local bank.

About 60 supporters greeted us when we got to Pulaski and the marquee at the Pulaski Theater said “Welcome Governor Warner”. He toured Downtown Pulaski and its Main Street with Commonwealth Attorney Mike Fleenor. From there, he went to the New River Valley Fair, where he called a round of bingo.

“Hello, my name is Mark Warner, and I’m unemployed,” he told the bingo players.

Click here to read the story from Pulaski’s Southwest Times.

We ended the day at FloydFest, an annual multi-day music festival in Floyd County, where Governor Warner made a headlining appearance.

He was escorted around FloydFest by Republican Floyd County Sheriff Shannon Zeman. He told countless people:

“I’m a Republican, but I’m voting for him because Mark Warner is the best Governor Virginia’s ever had.”

Loose Leaf Notes wrote about Governor Warner’s stop:

Eating a meal in the FloydFest hospitality tent, Warner playfully referred to himself as “an unemployed Governor,” and joked that campaigning earlier that day was just an excuse to end up at FloydFest. … After his meal, he walked through the crowd, introducing himself and shaking hands with festival goers. He, an outgoing and popular governor that even some Republicans like, was obviously enjoying himself. One of his three aides (all in their twenties) said that Warner was hard to keep up with.

We have some great pictures from the day. Check them out:

"I'm back again"

Governor Warner met with two dozen Roanoke Valley residents and business owners who have been impacted by the nation’s struggling economy. Governor Warner offered his commitment to work for common-sense, bipartisan solutions to address concerns about high energy and food costs.

Check out this story from WSLS-TV:

The Roanoke Times also had a great summary of the stop:

The group of Roanoke business owners, bus drivers, wine distributors and retirees who met with U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner on Thursday was as diverse as you’ll find in the valley, but they all seemed to have the same concerns in mind: rising gas prices, food prices and a generally slow economy.

For his part, Warner offered up little in terms of a one-shot solution.

“I’m probably not going to be the guy with the silver bullet,” Warner told them. “Some of these things took us 35 years to get into.”

But the Democrat and former Virginia governor did offer up bits and pieces that - once assembled - formed the outline of a comprehensive energy policy and broader campaign platform.

...

“Here’s one of the things that makes me crazy about what’s going on in Washington with both political parties,” Warner said. “It’s divided down, on energy—it’s either all going to be alternatives or it’s all about drilling. This is a national crisis. We need both.”

Warner said the federal government should offer more tax credits for renewable energy development and for those who purchase fuel-efficient vehicles. But he also called for Congress to lift a 26-year-old moratorium on offshore drilling and allow states to make their own decisions.

He also voiced support for nuclear power – an energy source not typically endorsed by Democrats and their allies in the environmental movement – saying it “shouldn’t take 30 years to get a nuclear plant online in this country.”

Warner said that if elected, one of his first goals would be to ally with 10 or 12 other senators from both parties to form a group of “radical centrists.”

“Whether we have Mr. [Barack] Obama being president or Mr. [John] McCain being president, unless there is a group in the center of Democrats and Republicans actually working together, you’re not going to get the big changes,” Warner said. “I just absolutely believe our politics have been too much driven by voices on either end of the extreme.”

In addition to listening and talking about his platform, Warner also worked to show his personality.

Shortly after arriving at the restaurant in a Chevy Malibu, Warner greeted Pat Coleman, who’s worked at the eatery for 26 years.

“Well, I’m back again,” Warner said.

Listening to housing woes

Governor Warner met with some Fredericksburg-area residents this morning who have been impacted by the nation’s housing crisis. He listened to their stories and offered his commitment to work for solutions for Virginians struggling to head-off foreclosure and remain in their homes.

The homeowners shared personal stories about how they almost lost their homes before they got help from Cherie Miles, a mortgage counselor from the Central Virginia Housing Coalition, a not-for-profit group which helps families of low-to-moderate income. Cherie said that there are 487 foreclosed properties in the Fredericksburg area. Of the 53 families she is helping, she has been able to save the homes of only 14.

Don Willis is a retired military veteran who ran into financial difficulty when he was laid-off from his job. He worked with the Coalition to refinance his mortgage to prevent foreclosure, but his loan was pulled at the last minute and he now has started the refinancing process again. Steve Waterholter, a self-employed construction worker, and his wife Veronica, turned to the Coalition for help when they ran into trouble on their interest-only mortgage loan.

Governor Warner thanked them for sharing their personal stories: “It’s one thing to read about it. It’s another thing to hear first-hand from folks.”

“I just want to say thank you,” Veronica told Governor Warner, “because as someone up high, for you to take the time to talk to people like us, it means a lot. We normally think we all are forgotten about… so it means a lot to me to know that someone cares.”

The Free Lance-Star wrote a front-page story this morning about the breakfast roundtable. They wrote that Governor Warner

said the solution requires a multi-pronged approach. He supports the idea of more financial counselors, and said that consolidating loans and getting a person to sit down with to negotiate are key.

The Stafford Sun adds:

Warner reminded everyone that Congress is considering providing more counselors like Miles, and recommended fixed-rate mortgages – and not betting on the economy. As Warner stated, “It feels like this shouldn’t be happening to you. You [Willis] have a nice house, and you [Waterholter] have your own company.” He stressed that working with local companies – from banks to counseling services – really helps.

Later, Governor Warner stopped by a telework facility in Dale City, one of seven of its kind around the Commonwealth, that rents out cubicles with everything a person would need to conduct their office work without having to drive all the way to their offices. Several of the folks we met said they were able to save hours of time, frustration, and gas money by working from the telework facility once or twice a week.

Governor Warner told the telecommuters that he believes a renewed emphasis on telecommuting and flexible work schedules could help people avoid costly daily commutes and help reduce our nation’s reliance on foreign oil. Nearly four million Americans telecommute, collectively saving about 840 million gallons of gas and taking about two million vehicles off the road each year.

Coffee Talk

A group of business leaders, community activists, and regular folks sat down with Governor Warner yesterday at D’Egg Diner in Downtown Norfolk.

“I wanted to hear a little bit from y’all about what you’re dealing with,” Governor Warner said.

Here is the report from the Daily Press:

As you might expect gas prices were the central focus. No matter whether folks were talking about shoppers at the MacArthur Center Mall or donations to the Salvation Army. Just about everything centered on how fuel prices are out of control and what Washington can do about it.

Here is the report from WAVY/WBVT in Norfolk:

Later in the day, he toured Main Street Suffolk where he met with Mayor Linda Johnson and members of the city staff, before visiting local shops and businesses along the way.

The Suffolk News Herald was there with him:

“My wife and three teenage daughters said get a job, so, here I am,” he joked with customers at Baron’s Pub.

Johnson said it was exciting to have Warner in town, especially because of his work to make modeling and simulation a priority for the city and state.

“I call him the father of modeling and simulation,” she said. “He’s just brought so much to our city. He’s worked hard and believes in us. He’s an awesome individual.”

A Real Agenda

Our campaign manager, Mike Henry, sent out this email on Saturday after the debate, summarizing Governor Warner’s solid performance. We were all proud of the Governor for holding his own and laying out a real agenda for real results in Washington.

Like the Governor said during the debate, we’re all looking forward to the people of Virginia having the opportunity to look at the records of both candidates and deciding who they trust to make good on their word and deliver real results, not petty partisanship.

All the pundits said that Mark Warner had everything to lose and Jim Gilmore had everything to gain in today’s first debate of this campaign. But Governor Warner insisted on taking on the challenge, and he clearly proved why he is the best candidate to break through the partisanship in Washington and move our country in a new direction.

Virginia Tech political commentator Robert Denton told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the debate was “very lively. Mark Warner more than held his own.”

Governor Warner outlined a real agenda that will deliver results—identifying key areas where we need to show improvement, and proposing concrete solutions for getting the job done. He talked about the deadlock on energy policy even as gas prices soar and billions of dollars flow to anti-American countries to purchase oil. And he proposed to confront the challenge head on by dramatically increasing investments in renewable fuel technologies, improving conservation efforts, and expanding domestic energy production.

Governor Warner’s call for bipartisan solutions contrasted sharply with Jim Gilmore’s divisive and partisan style. The Washington Post wrote that Gilmore “raised his voice in a manner that made some audience members uncomfortable” and noted that “many of Gilmore’s statements seemed better suited for a 1990s-style Republican campaign in Virginia.”

For example, Governor Warner asked Gilmore why he refused $56 million of federal money for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as governor – a bipartisan initiative that ensures working parents aren’t forced to make heart-wrenching choices between putting food on the table and paying insurance premiums for their kids. Gilmore responded by calling SCHIP a “government welfare program.”

Gilmore even declined to point out a single policy disagreement with President Bush when he was given an explicit opportunity to do so, saying, “I believe that the President has worked very hard to make sure that the economy has been running well.” Governor Warner, on the other hand, outlined his vision to move beyond the failed economic policies of this administration in order to provide real opportunity for all Americans.

I obviously think Mark Warner stole the show, but there will be plenty more opportunities to hear from both of these candidates over the next few months and decide for yourself. So stay tuned.

Thanks,

Mike Henry Campaign Manager

The First Debate

The first debate took place this morning at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. Here is our fact check report from the debate, which highlights the mischaracterizations that were made.

Summer in Staunton

Governor Warner stopped by Staunton yesterday, spending a very warm summer day promoting arts and culture in the Valley.

He stopped by the Dixie Theater, which will soon be turned into a performing arts center thanks to funds his administration allocated to the community, and Blackfriars Playhouse, home of the American Shakespeare Center. He finished up at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, where he admired the Wilson presidential limo and toured the inside before he serving ice cream and joining an egg relay with local Girl Scouts.

The Staunton News Leader covered his trip:

When resident Kitty Dozier told him that she loved him as governor and will love him in a new position, he kissed her on the cheek. “I thought he was a wonderful governor,” Dozier said afterwards. “He did so much for the state of Virginia.”

In an address that praised Staunton’s downtown revitalization efforts, Warner said Virginia has many special places. “But there are very few places as special as Staunton,” he said.

...

After his speech, Warner toured the Dixie Theatre and Blackfriars Playhouse.

Walking over to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential library, he paused briefly to join a team of children in a relay race.

Carrying an egg in a spoon, Warner made his way carefully back and forth across the lawn before passing off his precarious cargo and touring the museum’s cool interior.

After Warner’s departure, Staunton Democratic Committee Chairman Bob Dickerman described his “energy,” “vitality” and connection to Staunton.

“I think he’s really a genuine friend of this community,” Dickerman said, noting that the regard people have for him was apparent during the visit. “They have a lot of regard and affection for this man.”

The Governor emphasized the arts as a vital part of tourism. He told NBC29:

“Tourism up and down the Valley through Charlottesville is one of our fastest growing industries. We combine beautiful outside opportunities, we combine a growing wine industry, great historic sites and then we add the cultural component and you’ve got everything a potential visitor could need,” he said.

Here are pictures from the stop:

New Ad: "Energy Plan"

We’re launching a new television ad today that highlights our ‘portfolio approach’ to fixing our nation’s energy crisis. Governor Warner knows that the only was we can lower our gas prices is by pursuing several different options, including investing in new energy technologies that are being developed right here in Virginia.

Here’s what Governor Warner had to say:

“If Virginians give me an opportunity to represent them in the U.S. Senate, I will work in a bipartisan way to enact a balanced ‘portfolio approach’ that simultaneously tackles our country’s energy crisis on several fronts, and will decrease our dependence on foreign oil,” Governor Warner said.

Here is the ad:

The Wire

Today, we’re launching a new website that we hope becomes a resource for you as you keep up with our campaign.

WarnerWire.com is a site that will keep you informed on the latest news and blog posts that are written about our campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Here’s what our campaign manager, Mike Henry, wrote in an email to our supporters this morning:

There are so many blogs and news outlets covering Mark Warner’s Senate race that sometimes it’s tough to keep up. That’s why today, we’re rolling out WarnerWire.com, a place you can go to find the best, most up-to-date information on Mark’s campaign.

From debate coverage and on-the-road campaign news, to political cartoons and online contests, WarnerWire.com will give you the tools you need to stay informed.

Click Here to Visit WarnerWire.com. Then Bookmark it On Your Browser.

'Hot Air'

Folks across the Commonwealth are beginning to see through our opponent’s claims that increased domestic oil drilling will magically solve our energy crisis. From newspaper editorial boards to a legendary Texas oilman who made his fortune in oil, an increasing number of people recognize that “drill here/drill now” is not a real solution.

Increasing our domestic production of oil and gas is simply one tool among many that could help address America’s long-term reliance on foreign oil. Governor Warner supports allowing exploration for oil and gas offshore, but he recognizes that’s only one part of a broader plan that includes cracking-down on oil speculators, promoting telecommuting and conservation, and aggressively pursuing development of clean, renewable energy sources—like wind, solar, biofuels, clean coal and nuclear.

This morning, two significant Virginia editorial pages sharply criticized our opponent’s simplistic “drill here/drill now” strategy:

The Bristol Herald Courier wrote:

No serious thinker, outside of partisan political circles, believes this is the case. Even the government’s own reports indicate that drilling in ANWR will have minimal impact on gasoline prices. Increased offshore oil production could have a greater effect on prices, but it won’t be immediate, according to the Department of Energy.

The Roanoke Times also weighed in:

He also knows that it’s a matter of supply and demand. So instead of understanding the complexities of dwindling oil supplies and quickly rising global demand, then working on ways to reduce U.S. demand, candidate Drillmore frames it this way: Pump more oil. ... Even if Drillmore hoodwinks voters into sending him to the Senate, and even if he finds enough like-minded members of Congress and a president to agree with his scheme, and even if oil companies set right to work exploring offshore and draining ANWR, prices at the pump are not going to budge.

To see more facts about how domestic drilling for oil will not solve our energy challenges, check out our fact check section.

"Gotta Work For It"

Here is some video of Governor Warner at the Dale City and Fairfax City Parades on the Fourth of July.

Fourth of July

Governor Warner’s Fourth of July started in Dale City, where he “walked” down Dale Blvd., greeting hundreds of supporters along the way.

For those of you who have ever seen Mark Warner participate in a parade, “walk” is an understatement. Governor Warner loves meeting folks during parades and typically runs along both sides of the road trying to shake as many hands as possible.

“You can’t say that I’m not working hard for this Senate seat!” he said throughout the day as he ran through two parades and two festivals.

We had a tremendous turnout of volunteers, both in the parades and among the crowds. Hundreds of Dale City residents proudly wore Mark Warner for Senate stickers and held up rally signs along the way. When we joined the Fairfax City Parade afterward, loud cheers greeted Governor Warner as he raced to catch up to the volunteers that were holding up signs and passing out stickers.

In the heat and despite the sweat, the crowd’s enthusiasm really gave us all a second wind as we tried to keep up with Governor Warner in these parades.

After the Fairfax City Parade, we added a stop at Fairfax City Hall, where event organizers hosted a lunch with parade volunteers and staff. Then we stopped by the second annual Central Labor Council barbeque. After that, we stopped by Vienna’s Fourth of July Festival before ending the day in Manassas.

On Saturday, Governor Warner stopped by the Filipino-American Festival in Virginia Beach before going to the Hanover Tomato Festival in Mechanicsville.

Thanks to everyone who came out and showed their support in the parade and special thanks to all the volunteers and staff who gave us such a strong presence at parades and festival across the Commonwealth.

We’ll have video of the parades up shortly, but in the meantime, take a look at these pictures from this weekend.

Fourth of July Events

Our campaign will be out and about all across the state this weekend at various events celebrating our Independence.

Here is where Governor Warner will be this weekend. In addition to these events, we’ll have campaign staff and volunteers as the Fourth of July festivals and parades across Virginia. Make sure to stop by and say hi!

Endorsement: Sun Gazette Newspapers

The Sun Gazette Newspapers, a local newspaper group that covers jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, came “out of the gate early” and endorsed Mark Warner for U.S. Senate. They said their decision was a no-brainer>

Warner is far superior to Gilmore both in competence and temperament. As governor, despite a rocky first two years, he learned from his mistakes and emphasized an agenda that did not leave out the most needy in the commonwealth while it still pushed for economic growth.

Click here to read their whole endorsement.

Endorsement: Virginia's Law Enforcement Leaders

Citing Mark Warner’s record of support during the state's budget crunch and his bipartisan leadership during natural disasters and public safety crises, six of Virginia’s best-known law enforcement officials endorsed Governor Warner’s bid for the U.S. Senate.

At a press conference at the State Capital in Richmond, Governor Warner announced endorsements from a bipartisan group of veteran public safety leaders with a combined 186 years of law enforcement experience, including:

· Col. Gerald Massengill, a former Superintendent of Virginia State Police and chairman of the Virginia Tech Review Panel;
· Sheriff Robert McCabe of Norfolk, president of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association;
· Chief Mark Marshall of Smithfield and a vice president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police;
· Chief Garth Wheeler, the chief of police at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond and a former four-time president of the Fraternal Order of Police.

He also received the endorsements of Sheriff Paul Lanteigne and Sheriff Gabe Morgan. Watch their endorsements here:

As governor, Mark Warner made sure to prioritize the state's scarce budget resources to meet our basic responsibility to ensure public safety. His tax reform initiative allowed the state to help fund salaries for local police departments and sheriff's deputies, and his support gave the Virginia State Police the ability to recruit and train 439 new state troopers during his four years in office.

After 9/11, Governor Warner was the first governor in the nation to appoint a cabinet-level state official dedicated to homeland security and convened a task force that offered 150 recommendations to improve the state's homeland security. He also helped improve first responder capabilities by significant investments in the Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS).

He also initiated a statewide AMBER Alert System and was named by the National Council Against Drunk Driving as the nation's "Unsung Hero" for his push for tougher anti-drunk driving laws. He is also credited with making it more difficult for meth manufactures to misuse over-the-counter decongestants.

Click here to view the press release.