Former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore talked with WVCW, VCU’s student radio, Wednesday about the 2009 election for Virginia governor and his previous campaign in 2005.
WVCW radio host, Bobby Showah, sat down with Kilgore and discussed the parallels between national and state politics, factors that influence election results, and Kilgore’s plans to work with Republican nominee Bob McDonnell’s campaign.
Showah highlighted the use of controversial ads in the on-going governor’s race and their possible effects on election results based on Kilgore’s 2005 campaign against Gov. Tim Kaine.
“It seems like the only part of his campaign is to attack McDonnell and his thesis,” Kilgore said. “In this bad economy, are looking for candidates that have a plan for jobs, a plan for roads and a plan to get the state moving again.”
According to Kilgore, Virginia votes against the president in office and this trend has been in place for the past two decades.
Kilgore said President Barack Obama’s popularity numbers are dropping along with the support of his programs.
“The national politics do control Virginia state politics,” Kilgore said. “We’ve seen it since the 1970s. I wish I’d have listened to it in 2005 when I was running.”
Kilgore’s experience from his previous campaign made his perspective on current issues relevant for students, according to Showah.
Showah said he tries to get students involved in national and state politics. He has interviewed a long list of political figures including former Virginia governor Doug Wilder, former democratic nominee for Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, political analyst Bob Holsworth, McDonnell and Kilgore.
“It’s humbling for you to get people like that,” Showah said. “We only see politicians as these people we never encounter and when you meet them, whether they’re Republicans or Democrats, you realize that they’re just normal.”
Showah said the criteria for interviewees for his show at WVCW is student interest, to promote student involvement, and other factors such as accessibility and current events.
Lauren Geerdes, adviser for WVCW, said bringing in people the students are interested in establishes a sense of community.
“I want to ask the questions that a lot of people want answered, which are a lot of the questions that I’d like to get answered,” Showah said.
The interview with Kilgore will be aired Monday at 8 p.m. on WVCW.