One country, one future

Thousands cheered in front of the Ronald Reagan Building yesterday afternoon as George W. Bush took the stage to give his acceptance speech after being re-elected president of the United States. Bush stressed that unity and support will be needed from the country’s citizens for the years ahead.

“We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us,” the president said, “and when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America.”

After Bush learned his election was secure Wednesday, Sen. John Kerry decided not to challenge the vote count in the swing state of Ohio. Kerry called Bush before giving his concession speech with John Edwards a couple of hours before Bush took the stage.

Continuing his theme on unity, Bush asked those who voted for Kerry to stand behind him in his second term.

“Reaching these goals will require the broad support of Americans,” Bush said. “To make this nation stronger I will need your support, and I will work to earn it.”

The president also spoke about his optimism for the years ahead, referring to his

plans to help the emerging democracies of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Because we have done the hard work, we’re entering a season of hope,” Bush said.

Virginian’s Republican Party officials mirrored the theme of hope as they celebrated while watching the poll results come in Tuesday night.

Kate Griffin, the Republican Party of Virginia chairman, spoke to about 500 or more supporters at the Richmond Marriot West shortly after it seemed Virginia had been all but locked up by Bush.

“Virginia rallied around President Bush and supported moving our country forward on the path toward greater prosperity, greater freedom and greater security,” Griffin said, “instead of turning back to a time of higher taxes and insecurity at home and abroad.”

Jerry Kilgore, the attorney general of Virginia, also stepped up to the podium to announce his excitement about Bush’s potential victory in the state, saying it was an honor to be the chairman of the Bush campaign in Virginia.

“Tonight Virginia chose our great president, George W. Bush,” he said.

Griffin said the returns demonstrated Virginians agreed with the direction the president was taking the country.

“There is a great outpouring of energy and enthusiasm for our president,” she said.

Bill Reiner, an international business major who attended the event, said he, too, remained excited about the favorable returns for Bush Tuesday night.

“We’ll have four more years of continuing prosperity in the economy,” Reiner said. “We’ll also have four years of security as far as the war on terror and an improved Iraq. He’s really going to change the direction in Iraq.”

The party Tuesday night not only filled with optimism for President Bush, but also rallied around the victory of Rep. Eric Cantor, who won Virginia’s 7th District in the House of Representatives. They also celebrated the introduction of Thelma

Drake as the victor of the 2nd Congressional District.

“Tonight we are going to have an incredible new member of our delegation with a new congresswoman from the second district, Thelma Drake,” Griffin said.

With several other Virginia republicans winning their respective races for Congress, many who attended began to shift their attention from the presidential election to the upcoming gubernatorial race in 2005. Since serving as the state’s attorney general, Kilgore has been the presumed candidate for the Republican Party Ticket.

“It’s certainly good to have eight of the 11 congressmen and women on our side,” Kilgore said.