Virginia Politics Blog Archive: At the 2008 Conventions
From the Floor: The Real Work Starts
Kate Maxwell was a Virginia delegate to the Republican National Convention who blogged from Minneapolis-St. Paul for Virginia Politics. She is from Midlothian in Chesterfield County. I'm in the airport, waiting to go back to the real world in which a long workday doesn't culminate in a balloon drop. It's been an amazing week for me, and as exhausted as I am, I know the real work starts today. Having never been to a convention before, it's tough for me to say with any authority how this one went. Over the course of this week, though, I have watched a transformation in the delegates. Let's face it, you have to be a pretty enthusiastic Republican to take a week out of your life, and in some cases, fly across the country to watch political speeches. I don't think anyone here lacked excitement for the McCain-Palin ticket on Monday, but...
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Anne Bartlett
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September 5, 2008; 5:15 PM ET |
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From the Floor: Palin and a Pit Bull
Kate Maxwell is a Virginia delegate to the Republican National Convention who will be blogging from Minneapolis-St. Paul for Virginia Politics. She is from Midlothian in Chesterfield County. "What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick." Every American who tuned into the RNC Wednesday (and more tuned in for Gov. Palin than Barack Obama) knew that she had to hit a home run. To say she exceeded expectations is an understatment. I've seen some of the coverage from Wednesday night and Thursday, not only to catch a glimpse of the women of the Virginia delegation dancing to "Everyday People," but also to see whether the media could capture the dynamic energy and passion that was coursing through the Xcel Center. They didn't, but in all fairness, they couldn't...
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washingtonpost.com
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September 4, 2008; 5:36 PM ET |
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"Virginia is for McCain-Palin Lovers"
ST. PAUL --- After seeing Texans wearing matching cowboy hats and Pennsylvanians waving matching yellow towels, Virginians have come up with their own symbol to show off on the convention floor tonight. The Virginia delegation will be wearing white T-shirts that proclaim, "Virginia is for McCain-Palin lovers," a play on the state's longstanding slogan. Look for them to the left of the stage next to the New Mexico delegation. Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, delegation chairman, presented the T-shirts to the state's 63 delegates and 60 alternates this morning. McDonnell, the likely Republican nominee for governor next year, paid for the T-shirts....
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Anita Kumar
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September 4, 2008; 9:17 AM ET |
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At the 2008 Conventions
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Election 2009
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Robert F. McDonnell
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VA Business Owner Speaks at Convention
ST. PAUL --- Christy Swanson, a small business owner in Richmond and a Democrat, spoke Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention about her support of Sen. John McCain for president. She told the crowd of thousands that she backs McCain because he will not raise taxes and will expand the number of people with health insurance, "I'm a Democrat,'' she said. "I'm voting for John McCain. It is right for me and right for America." Swanson serves as vice chairwoman of Virginia Citizens for McCain, a coalition of Democrats and independents who support the Arizona senator for president. She and her husband, Kip, own a business that filters vegetable oil for restaurants and use the leftover waste oil to produce biodiesel fuel to power a small company fleet....
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Anita Kumar
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September 4, 2008; 2:26 AM ET |
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Virginians Sip Cocktails, Honor Pat Boone
MINNEAPOLIS --- More than 100 Virginia delegates, alternates and guests enjoyed a posh brunch on the top floor of a beach club overlooking Lake Calhoun, as a jazz bank played. The guest of honor, legendary singer Pat Boone, received a standing ovation when he walked to the stage wearing a white suit and a red, white and blue tie. "We are here to let John McCain and Governor Palin descend to the White House and dethrone the man who would be king,'' Boone said to applause and laughter. Guests sipped mimosas and Bloody Marys, dined on hand-carved roast beef, potato pancakes, frittata, rolls, fruit and salad and strolled onto a rooftop terrace to take in the view. "We don't see this in rural Virginia,'' quipped Tucker Watkins, a delegate from the southern part of the state....
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Anita Kumar
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September 3, 2008; 2:06 PM ET |
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At the 2008 Conventions
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Eric Cantor
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James Gilmore III
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Va. Resident Speaks at Convention
ST. PAUL --- Virginia resident and retired Army captain Leslie Smith spoke briefly on the floor of the Republican National Convention last night about her quest to encourage wounded veterans to live life to the fullest. Smith, of tiny Tappahannock in Essex County, had her left leg amputated after suffering a rare blood disorder during a 2002 peace-keeping mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina. "We need to make tomorrow better than today,'' she told the crowd of thousands last night. Smith had 20 surgeries during her seven-month stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Since then, she has completed four marathons, one triathlon and was recruited to try-out for the U.S. Paralympics Women's Sitting Volleyball team for the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. Now, she visits wounded military service members, motivating them to overcome their physical challenges through athletics....
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Anita Kumar
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September 3, 2008; 1:40 PM ET |
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