Warner, Perriello, Rasoul, Kaine rally in Roanoke

Updated 3:03 p.m.

Standing before an excited crowd, Mark Warner shouted, “Are you ready for a giant victory tomorrow?“

Warner has obviously read the polls on his Senate race showing him 25 points up. Nevertheless, he was in Roanoke Monday morning to help the Democrats kick off their get out the vote tour of Virginia.

Following tradition, they met in front of Fire Station One in downtown. And no matter the polls, every politician had the same message.

“It’s not over, right,“ Governor Tim Kaine told the crowd.

Tom Perriello, who is running a spirited campaign against Congressman Virgil Goode, said, “Get out there, work the phones, work the doors, get out the vote.“

And Warner said, “Are you ready to do you part?“ He went on to say, “We’ve got 24 hours before we make history in Virginia. Let’s take back this country. Let’s get it headed in the right direction. Let’s win tomorrow night.“

Warner was optimistic on stage, but more cautious in person.

WARNER: “You can’t be confident about elections until after the polls close.“

WARREN: “HOW DO YOU KEEP PEOPLE ENTHUSED WHEN YOU ARE 30 POINTS AHEAD IN THE POLLS?“

WARNER: “There is a lot of enthusiasm about our race. There’s also enthusiasm about the presidential race.“

Enter Governor Kaine, Barack Obama’s biggest cheerleader in Virginia.

“We could be the state that starts this avalanche that turns these states red to blue and makes Barack Obama our next president,“ Kaine said.

Kaine admitted that even his wife was scratching her head over Kaine’s early endorsement of Obama. He was the first governor to endorse Obama.

“Her thought was, well that’s great. Tim has endorsed Barack. I wonder who he will endorse when Barack drops out,“ he joked.

But Kaine is more convinced than ever that the long shot bet was right.

“We’re very close to winning, and even winning in Virginia,“ he said. “I might have thought he could have won but that Virginia would be an uphill battle. But he’s done so well.“

This get out the vote message could be most important to Perriello. Polls have his race getting tighter which left Perriello saying, “We’re going to say some prayers tonight and do everything we can at the polls tomorrow.“

The Republicans did not host a get out the vote rally in Roanoke or in the viewing area. Former Governor Jim Gilmore, Warner’s opponent in the Senate contest, spent the day campaigning in the Hampton Roads area. Republican leaders including former attorney general Jerry Kilgore, former Sens. Fred Thompson (R-TN) and George Allen (R-VA), and current Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell hit several Virginia cities including Harrisonburg, Bristol, Norfolk, and Richmond.

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Original story: Noon

Virginia’s Democratic team started its final statewide swing in Roanoke Monday morning.

Governor Tim Kaine joined former, now Senate candidate Governor Mark Warner, 5th district candidate Tom Perriello, and 6th district candidate Sam Rasoul in downtown Roanoke, to lend his support to their campaigns.

Kaine also made one last pitch for Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama.  Kaine is the national co-chair of Obama’s campaign, and was the first Governor to publicy endorse Obama for president.  Kaine says he’s optimistic about Obama’s chances in Virginia.

“We could be the state that starts this avalanche that turns these states red to blue and makes Barack Obama our next president,“ Kaine said.

Polls show Mark Warner is more than 25 points ahead in the polls against former Republican Governor Jim Gilmore, in the race to succeed retiring Senator John Warner (R).  Mark Warner will hold rallies in Norfolk and Richmond later Monday, before ending in Manassas at a rally with Obama.