Democrats in Richmond are energized after a visit from former President Barack Obama. Obama headlined a rally in support of the Democratic ticket for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Officials estimate about 7,500 people attended.
Democratic candidate for Governor Ralph Northam is known for big soft spoken, but he was anything but quiet Thursday night.
“We as Democrats are going to get back on offense, and stop playing so much defense,” Northam roared to the crowd. “We’re going to be proactive, rather than reactive. We can make it happen right here in Virginia.”
The race between Northam and Republican Ed Gillespie is expected to be tight, and Democrats tend to have a tougher time turning out voters in off years.
But the rally was meant to energize, and it seemed to work.
“I am so excited, words can’t even describe how excited I am to see my President,” said Felicia Nance. “We definitely need to vote November 7th. It’s very important. We have a voice and we have to continue to speak.”
Karen Brown says she felt encouraged and inspired.
“It was almost like the election when President Obama was running ‘Yes we can!’ And we want to get the Democrats back in control,” said Brown.
Democrats are also mounting an effort to take back control of the statehouse in Richmond. All 100 of those House of Delegates seats are also up for election this November.
Obama referenced those races, pointing out that more than half of the new Democratic challengers are women.
“A dozen of them are millennials, so if you want a House of Delegates that looks more like Virginia, then make sure to get out and vote for the whole ticket,” said Obama.
Obama also touched briefly and indirectly on the issue of Confederate monuments, saying Northam won’t erase the state’s history and any suggestion that he will by Republican Ed Gillespie is a distraction.
Jokingly, he mentioned his own Confederate heritage.
“Like I’m an eighth, or ninth or tenth, or something cousin removed from Jefferson Davis, who was the head of the Confederacy. Think about that,” Obama said to laughs. “I’ll bet he’s spinning in his grave.”
