National Democrats Add Staff to Virginia

Tim Craig

The Democratic National Committee is adding another layer of paid staff to the party's efforts to help Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) win Virginia's 13 electoral votes this fall.

The national party announced today it is funding a group called the Virginia Campaign for Change, which is designed to reach out to voters in support of Obama and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mark R. Warner.

Katie Ingebretson, who was a regional field director for Obama in Iowa prior to his victory in that state's caucuses, will head up the effort. Yohannes Abraham, who led Obama's get-out-the-vote campaign in Virginia's Feb. 12 primary, will be the field director. Luke Hayes is the deputy field director of the Virginia Campaign for Change.

The DNC has also hired 10 regional field directors who will work in Richmond, Fairfax, Bristol, Charlottesville, Danville, Arlington/Alexandria, Newport News/Hampton, Norfolk/Virginia Beach and Prince William and Loudoun counties.

The Democratic staffers are in addition to those are already working in Virginia directly for Obama.The Virginia Democratic Party's coordinated campaign also has staff working on the ground on behalf of Warner and Obama.

Meanwhile, Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, and the Virginia Republican Party announced today they will be opening regional headquarters this week in Fairfax and Richmond.

McCain's Virginia headquarters has been opened in Pentagon City for nearly two months. Obama has yet to officially open a Virginia headquarters, although his top Virginia staffers are based in Richmond.

By Tim Craig |  July 8, 2008; 11:36 AM ET  | Category:  Barack Obama , Election 2008/President , Tim Craig
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Comments

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I wonder when Michelle Shaniqua Obama's "whitey" tape will surface. I think the Republicans will release it in October. It would not make sense to release it now. I know the Obama people dimiss it as a hoax but that is what they want you to beleive. Michelle Obama is a race baiter. Did you hear her speech in NC? SHe kept saying throughout her speech that "they are trying to raise the bar", "they keep moving the goal post", "they, they, they" ("They" is code for "Whitey") Everytime she would say these lines you would hear the audience reply, "uh huh", "that's right", "amen", "I heard that" (obviously a black audience).

Posted by: Dianne72 | July 8, 2008 3:31 PM

I have e-mailed the Washington Post to complain once again about Dianne72, who should not be allowed to leave comments at all, if their policy on hate speech is to have any meaning.

She has left nothing but racist comments for months. She has made up a fake middle name for Michelle Obama that is obviously meant as a slur. She has decided in the posting here that the word "They" is a racist slur as opposed to being a pronoun referring to television pundits or political rivals. She constantly promotes a rumored tape that doesn't exist, that was hyped in the last desperate days of the primary by a pro-Hillary blogger. Her other postings have other ugly race-based attacks. Let her crawl back under the rock she came from.

Posted by: Anonymous | July 8, 2008 4:05 PM

Well said, July 8. The one thing I fear that Obama cannot accomplish if elected is a change in the political climate in this country. From the prevailing ugliness of talk radio to even some of Obama's own supporters, the level of discourse in this country is so depressing.

Posted by: Martin A | July 8, 2008 6:24 PM

Does the Washington Post have any standards regarding hate speech and blatant racism appearing on its site? Some comments about the Obamas, especially Michelle, sound like a klan rally.

Posted by: godblessusa | July 8, 2008 6:40 PM

It's called freedom of speech! I think you are a little over the top in labeling me as a racist. I merely point at the fact that she was speaking in code when using the term "they". I heard the speech and was apalled. Anyone who says anything negative about Obama and his wife are portrayed in a negative light. You better get used to the fact Mr. Obama will have a very, very difficult first term and he will and the playing of the race card will only go so far. So deal with it!

Posted by: Dianne72 | July 8, 2008 10:16 PM

I love that even Dianne72 admits that Senator Obama is going to win ("Mr Obama will have a ... first term"). Go Barack! Let's send a message to the Dianne72's of the world, and get this country back on track with a big Barack victory. Everywhere there is a Dianne72, let's meet it with a resounding factual message of dignity and patriotism.

Dianne 72 is right about one thing (and only one thing), and that is that she/he is exercising his/her freedom of speech. To rectify hateful, ignorant speech, it must be met with resolute facts.

Obama '08.

Posted by: GoHuskies08 | July 8, 2008 11:05 PM

The devotees (groupies) of Barry Hussein will be sadly dissapointed half way through his term as President. We will still be in Iraq and gas will be $6 a gallon. Now that's change I can believe in!

Posted by: Nadeem Zakaria | July 8, 2008 11:37 PM

Ok, I am a Klan member, so what. Get a life you little and sub-human minority races. We will always rule you. "We" is for "Whitey" just like "they."
Mccain will win because of his white support; he should not care about Black, Hispanic, Asian or any other race. Get a life, know the rule; Whiteys will always rule, I'll keep posting anti-Obama statements, my audience is "Whitey" only; all other please disregard!

Posted by: Dianne72 | July 9, 2008 3:59 PM

Who is your whitey audience? Millions of "whites," such as myself, strongly support Senator Obama. You are speaking to a racist audience, not a "white" audience. You are sub-humanity, Dianne72, and a disgraceful American. Freedom of speech is great, but don't forget that "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

Posted by: Sean | July 14, 2008 7:26 PM

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