Leesburg Today - "Gilmore: Loudoun Is Key to Republicans"
Less than an hour before his opponent in the U.S. Senate race took the stage to address the world from the Democratic National Convention last night, former Republican governor Jim Gilmore came before the Loudoun County Republican Committee to explain the differences between him and former Democratic governor Mark Warner.
One of the biggest issues Gilmore focused on was energy, including the need for not only conservation efforts, but for the use of nuclear power, clean coal power and domestic drilling.
"This is the issue. We have to drill for oil domestically. Drill here, drill now, pay less," Gilmore said. "This requires decisive action to get us out of this mess. It's our issue and we're going to stick with this."
Gilmore also said some of the tax cuts currently in place are at risk of expiring and he pledged to renew the tax cuts and make them permanent. The former governor also touted his experience in national security, calling this a "very grave time" for Americans.
"I have spent a lifetime thinking about national security," he said. "I understand these issues."
Loudoun, and its Republicans, are key to helping win not only the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. John Warner, but also to winning the presidential race for John McCain, Gilmore said. He said the notion and talk that has been circulating that Virginia could support a Democratic president for the first time is "baloney."
"I won Northern Virginia twice and I am going to win it again," he said." And John McCain is going to carry Virginia as well."
Because it is the sixth largest vote total in the state of Virginia, Gilmore said Loudoun is a key county for Virginia and all candidates.
"There is a natural Republican constituency in Loudoun County," he said following his speech. "The people of Loudoun are concerned about the issues that Republicans address best."
Gilmore went on to say that while Loudoun is a "should win" for the Republicans, he is not taking it for granted.
"I'm fighting hard for it," he said.
Gilmore was governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002. His opponent was governor from 2002 to 2006.