It was all about family values for Republicans as they dug in for an evening of nail-biting election returns at George Allen’s party headquarters in Richmond Tuesday night.
Hundreds of Republicans from around Virginia turned up at the Marriott Richmond to await the results of the Senate race, which many said hinged on Allen’s character and his support of the state’s referendum on marriage — not the Iraq war.
“(His support of the amendment) is a big deal for me,” said Merle Kincaid, an elementary school teacher in Richmond. “It goes back to (Allen’s) foundation of family values. It’s a right or wrong issue and Allen has that solidness that we need … he stands up for what he believes in.”
Hours before Allen arrived at the hotel, Rep. Eric Cantor warmed up supporters with his acceptance speech. With a country music soundtrack in the background, Cantor told the crowd that his win was “a victory for our shared values.”
Republican Sen. John Warner also made the rounds at the Marriott, saying it was too early in the evening to make any definitive statements.
“Five times have I stood in this hotel and sweated it out,” he said. “Sometimes more than others, but that’s part of the game. It you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. … I’ve worked with George Allen and we’re not giving up hope.”
The crowd remained optimistic despite a truly neck-and-neck race, which ran at almost half and half several hours after the polls closed.
“We’ve been at this since 4:30 this morning,” said John Justice, chairman of the New Kent County Republican party. Justice,who spent the day canvassing polling places and talking to voters, said he was sure that Allen would win the Virginia seat.
“I don’t believe there’s a chance he can lose,” he said. “(But if he does), we’re going to move forward. There’s a race in Virginia every year and starting tomorrow will be campaigning.”
Part of the Washington DC Examiner’s 2006 election coverage.
