D.C. help sought for Virginia

The left-leaning group America Coming Together is soliciting D.C. residents to help “turn Virginia blue.”

The group, which campaigned for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry last year, is sending e-mails to residents of Virginia’s neighbors asking them to call residents of the commonwealth and sign them up for future volunteering or action.

“Here’s your chance to reach out to fellow progressives right across the river in Virginia now so we can gain electoral victories in the future,” reads an America Coming Together (ACT) e-mail to supporters.

“We know there are a lot of Virginians who hold progressive values and always support progressive issues, but haven’t been asked to do more. That’s where you come in. We all have to do our part if we’re going to turn Virginia blue.”

The political-mobilization effort comes as Virginians prepare for elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and the 100 members in the House of Delegates in November.

However, ACT is looking to national elections in 2006 and 2008.

Virginia, which has a sizable Republican majority in its legislature and congressional delegation, has not favored a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964.

ACT, which is partnered with America Votes, has scheduled an Election Action Day for Saturday. D.C. residents are asked to gather at phone banks either in the ACT office in Northwest or in Annandale.

They will call Virginians with “progressive” interests, spokeswoman Ruth Posekany said.

“We’re going to be doing some phone banking to identify people who might want to volunteer for stuff in the future,” she said, noting the calls will not mention any issues or candidates.

America Votes also is encouraging activists to get involved, saying in its events listing that the elections are “only four months away” in Virginia.

In addition, next year, Democrats nationwide will be fighting to win back a majority in the U.S. Senate and likely will challenge the re-election bid of Sen. George Allen, Virginia Republican and a former governor.

Meanwhile, the field for the 2008 presidential race is wide open, and Mr. Allen and Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat who is barred by law from seeking a consecutive second term, are said to be considering a run for the White House.

“Virginia is going to continue to be a battleground in federal elections,” said Mark Bergman, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Virginia.

The Republican Party of Virginia thinks otherwise.

“The same people that told us that John Kerry would win Virginia are now telling us that [Lt. Gov.] Tim Kaine can win the governor’s mansion,” said the party’s executive director, Shawn Smith.

Mr. Kaine, a Democrat, is running against former Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, a Republican, and H. Russell Potts Jr., a Republican state senator from Winchester who is running as an independent.

This gubernatorial race — one of only two in the country this year — already has attracted national attention.

The Republican Governors Association is raising money and running television ads for Mr. Kilgore, while the Democratic National Committee has given $1.5 million and has pledged an additional $3.5 million to Mr. Kaine.

Kaine campaign spokeswoman Delacey Skinner said she was unaware of the Election Action Day event, which is not affiliated with the Kaine campaign.

“This is a really exciting race, and I think there are a lot of people who want to get involved in it,” she said.