Four of the remaining candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination delivered speeches at the Virginia Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond Saturday night, making the case for their candidacies before an overflow crowd of Democratic supporters.
Rev. Al Sharpton, Sen. John Kerry, Gen. Wesley Clark and Sen. John Edwards all sought to deliver their campaign messages to Virginia voters and asserted their ability to defeat President George W. Bush in November, even as Saturday's Michigan and Washington caucuses marked the latest in a string of Kerry victories.
The candidates' speeches dominated the party's dinner, which, with its increased publicity this year, reflected Virginia's newly enhanced role in the nominating process.
Sharpton, a last-minute addition to the dinner, spoke first, emphasizing the importance of jobs and criticizing the war in Iraq.
"We are patriots -- patriots don't misuse American troops and patriots don't fabricate imminent danger and weapons of mass destruction," Sharpton said.
Kerry began his remarks by contrasting what he called Bush's extremism with his "mainstream American values."
"We as Democrats will not run from a debate about who represents mainstream America -- we welcome it," Kerry said.
Yesterday, Gov. Mark R. Warner announced his planned endorsement of Kerry, which was not disclosed at the dinner.
Clark cited his business and military experience as well as the components of "patriotism, faith, family values, and inclusive leadership" that he said formed the core of his campaign.
"I've forgotten more about national security than George W. Bush will ever learn," Clark said.
Edwards, speaking last, criticized Bush's economic policies and reiterated his desire to bring what he called "two Americas" together.
"I believe in you, and you deserve a President who believes in you," Edwards said.
Gov. Howard Dean had been scheduled to appear, but pulled out after the Feb. 3 primaries in order to focus on the Feb. 17 Wisconsin primary. Rep. Dennis Kucinich was campaigning elsewhere.
Virginia Democratic officials expressed their satisfaction that the state would play an increased role in the nominating process. State Party Chair Kerry J. Donley repeatedly mentioned that this year's dinner was the largest ever for the party. Kerry was the dinner's keynote speaker in 2003 and Edwards served as keynote speaker in 2002.
Besides the candidates, the dinner also saw volunteer and ex-legislator awards given out and featured speeches by Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, who was introduced by author John Grisham, and Warner.
Kaine and Warner both declared their belief that Democrats could win elections in Virginia. Warner spoke of Virginia's diverse groups of voters.
"To win in Virginia, you've got to be able to appeal to coal miners in the Blue Ridge, to enlisted men in Norfolk, to immigrants in Fairfax County," he said
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