The American Spectator

p> KILGORE OUT BACK br> Re: David Holman’s Can Kilgore Be Saved? : /p>

David Holman’s up front and astute assessment of Jerry Kilgore’s serious campaign problems in the run-up to the Virginia gubernatorial election next week paints an accurate, but incomplete picture of lost opportunities and roads not taken. Kilgore, a popular figure in the state’s Republican Party, won a landslide victory as Attorney-General four years ago, but, as Holman noted, has been unable to gain traction during this campaign. Aside from Holman’s appropriate criticism that Kilgore’s campaign strategists have been unfocused on the pro-life issue and fiscal restraint, of equal importance, in my judgment, has been their apparent reluctance to capitalize on the Democratic candidate’s refusal to deal with the legal, financial, and public health aspects of illegal immigration into the state. I believe Kilgore’s campaign handlers have been far too cautious in getting him out front on this issue; instead, the Kilgore campaign has played it safe and concentrated on transportation and education issues, neither of which will resonate with Virginia’s conservative electorate in the same way.

Another problem noted in Holman’s piece was the Kilgore decision to keep a noticeable distance between his campaign and the White House. I attended a fundraiser for a Republican incumbent for the House of Delegates (during the Miers nomination controversy) and the legislator expressed the view that Bush’s presence will not aid the Party’s candidates in Virginia next week. While Senator Allen attended the president’s recent foray into Virginia, he is not up for re-election in ‘06. Several weeks ago, an appearance by Karl Rove at a Kilgore rally in Fairfax was, at the last moment, cancelled.

p>Even if Kilgore spends the last week hammering the opposition on fiscal restraint and pro-life issues, I am not sure that his earlier caution can be overcome. I plan to cast my ballot for this honorable and decent man, but I am reasonably sure, however, that unless the campaign strategists include the consequences of the impact of illegal immigration on this state, they will have failed their candidate. There is much to do and little time. To quote Salisbury at Agincourt: “‘Tis a fearful odds.” br> — Vincent Chiarello br> Reston, Virginia /p> p> WHO LOST BASRA?