John Edwards and Ralph Stanley Coming to Roanoke
By: Lowell
Published On: 4/3/2007 6:57:36 AM
Today's Roanoke Times reports that "Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards will make a campaign visit to Roanoke on April 19, becoming the first major 2008 White House hopeful to hold a public event in Southwest Virginia." The main event will be "a free concert by Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys." In addition, Edwards will talk about "rural issues."
According to DPVA chairman Dick Cranwell, Edwards' visit "means Virginia is in play in terms of having a voice in the national political scene." Something tells me that Edwards' senior strategist Dave "Mudcat" Saunders agrees with that assessment. Something also tells me that Mudcat, who lives in Roanoke County and who played a big part in Mark Warner's "rural strategy" - including lots of bluegrass and NASCAR - in 2001, might have had a hand in this. :)
Comments
Mudcat on the Move (cycle12 - 4/3/2007 7:32:46 AM)
That's right, Lowell; Cranwell and Mudcat have been friends for many years and Saunders is definitely affecting Edwards' "rural strategy" this time around.
This is the same basic strategy that Mud advised Jim Webb to follow last year in this part of Virginia, and it works.
Please stay tuned...
Thanks!
Steve
anyone know (chiefsjen - 4/3/2007 1:52:05 PM)
who Webb might put his endorsement behind?
(Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/3/2007 1:55:09 PM)
I don't personally foresee a Webb endorsement happening. He had several candidates (Clinton, Obama, Edwards) helping him out along the way, and it wouldn't benefit him at all to take a side. Who knows though.
I have no idea. (Lowell - 4/3/2007 6:21:33 PM)
I would point out that Edwards, Obama, Clinton and Clark all came to Virginia to campaign for Webb in 2006. I don't remember Bill Richardson doing anything for Webb, but I could be mistaken on that.
Mudcat's footprint. (Bernie Quigley - 4/3/2007 7:51:21 AM)
I hope they hold festivities at the Galax Old Time Fiddler's Convention this August - it'll get my vote.
What you are seeing (Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/3/2007 8:57:19 AM)
is going to be the last ride of Mudcat. He's got all his chips in behind his boy John Edwards, and this is part of the high gear rural effort thats going on in Iowa and keeping Edwards atop the only poll that matters in this primary season.
Strong in Iowa (cycle12 - 4/3/2007 9:36:13 AM)
Well, I'm not quite sure why this may be Mudcat's "last ride", but I do know that due to his efforts for John in Iowa beginning early last year, Edwards is strong there.
Thanks!
Steve
(Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/3/2007 10:04:54 AM)
Well, he has said this is it for him, that this will be his last campaign. Mentioned that in his keynote address at the Virginia Young Democrats' banquet on Saturday.
Country music songwriter next? (cycle12 - 4/3/2007 10:47:27 AM)
Well, then, if that proves to be correct, I would suspect that, thereafter, we'll find Mudcat located permanently in Nashville, writing country music song lyrics to his heart's content...
Thanks!
Steve
(Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/3/2007 11:15:03 AM)
Funny you mention that, because he just produced a bluegrass CD with a grammy award winning producer, and an all star country music cast. Its called "Moneyland", and has seething political ties throughout the song selection. Its being released on a Sony label, and will be out late May.
:)
Agreed: You ain't lived... (cycle12 - 4/3/2007 11:32:35 AM)
...until you've sat in Mudcat's Ford Explorer with him, listening to the studio cuts of his songs on his SUV's premium sound system as he attempts to sing along with them!
Steve
(Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/3/2007 1:35:08 PM)
Actually, its currently a 2006 Jeep Cherokee, guns a'blazin' down the highway of course!
New wheels, new CD... (cycle12 - 4/3/2007 9:19:22 PM)
What's next?!
Steve
(Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/4/2007 3:27:41 PM)
Perhaps he'll head out to Dakota for JARDING FOR SENATE!
Mudcat doesn't miss much... (AnonymousIsAWoman - 4/3/2007 9:27:48 AM)
This is great. I think there are some dynamics that are going to change on the Republican side of this primary and that should affect the Democrats' strategy and whom we pick for our nomination. More coming when I actually have time to put out a diary on this. But I think it'll favor Edwards as a logical choice.
I'm glad to see anyone with a rural strategy (Nick Stump - 4/3/2007 6:12:25 PM)
I love the whole rural strategy Mudcat trumpets. Rural America is overlooked by nearly everyone and it shows up in the high rural death rate in Iraq, the failing rural economy and in nearly every other indicator out there. It's time Democrats start reaching out to our rural brothers and sisters. They haven't been Republican forever, and they're coming back our way. We can help by consider rural issues to be our issues.
That would be "considering" -- proof then post...duh (Nick Stump - 4/3/2007 6:13:21 PM)
Speaking of polls (WillieStark - 4/3/2007 11:28:43 PM)
http://www.bluesunbe...
Check out that U of Iowa poll. Edwards is strong and getting stronger in Iowa.
Edwards continues to surge.. (Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/4/2007 8:48:04 AM)
... in polls that MATTER. Key states such as Iowa have him ahead, and now New Hampshire shows a surging Edwards to a slumping Clinton:
http://www.cnn.com/2...
Don't discount Dr. Ralph (Bubby - 4/4/2007 3:01:49 PM)
He has consistently supported Democratic candidates in SW. He had some very harsh words for W, last time around. That he would pick John Edwards seems appropriate. They both rose from humble roots.
And Mudcat ain't hanging it up, he loves this stuff.