‘Bush Country’

With drinks in one hand and campaign memorabilia in the other, more than 500 Republicans at the Richmond Marriott West celebrated early Tuesday night, as television reports began showing President George W. Bush ahead of Sen. John F. Kerry in the U.S. presidential election.

Confident of placing Virginia in the win column for his party, Jerry Kilgore, the party’s top state political leader, stepped to the stage, tagging the commonwealth as “Bush Country.”

“Tonight Virginia chose our great president, George W. Bush,” said Kilgore, Virginia’s attorney general. “We have to wait on these returns, but I’m convinced that George W. Bush is going to be re-elected president of the United States.”

Wednesday’s acceptance speech by the president and Kerry’s concession materialized Republican hopes.

“Virginians rallied around President Bush in support of moving our country forward on a path toward greater prosperity, greater freedom and greater security,” said Kate Griffin, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, at the GOP Countdown to Victory 2004 party. “Virginians have sent a clear message in overwhelming numbers that we are united behind the principles and values of the Republican Party.”

As Republican victories were reported across the state, U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor spoke to the crowd shortly after seeing the numbers that ensured his return to Congress.

“It’s been a great election night for Virginia,” he said. “We’re going to bring Virginia – as is America going to bring itself – in for George Bush.”

Cantor celebrated a decisive victory as did fellow Reps. J. Randy Forbes, former head of Virginia’s Republican Party; Virgil H. Goode of the 5th District and Jo Ann Davis of the 1st District.

Winners at the party agreed that this year’s election tallies signify a win for the governor’s mansion in 2005.

“The election results tonight represent a tremendous setback for (Gov.) Mark Warner and (Lt. Gov.) Tim Kaine,” said Griffin, before she introduced Kilgore as the “next governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Addressing the crowd, Kilgore agreed with Griffin:

“We have shown Mark Warner and Tim Kaine that the reports of the demise of the GOP in Virginia have been greatly exaggerated,” Kilgore told those at the Republican celebration.

Juston Rose, head of Students for Bush and a member of VCU’s College Republicans, said the Republican Party’s wins throughout the state come as no surprise to him.

“People from the Kerry campaign thought Virginia was a battleground state,” he said. “Give me a break. They voted overwhelmingly for Bush.”

What do these wins mean for next year’s gubernatorial election?

“For Governor Warner, I think his days are numbered,” said Rose, a senior.

Fellow student Shana Mell, a senior criminal justice major, affirmed Rose’s statement.

“Bush winning to me will show a feeling of camaraderie (in the Republican party),” she said. “Virginia is such a Republican state; it helps us out always to keep Virginia Republican.”

Both Rose and Mell, who were at the GOP party after midnight, said they would stay up all night to await the Republican presidential victory.