Politics & Government

Susan Allen, Elaine Chao Campaign in Springfield

George Allen supporters gather at the Springfield District offices.

Former first lady of Virginia Susan Allen, wife of former Gov. George Allen, and Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of Labor for President George W. Bush, finished a day of campaigning in Northern Virginia Tuesday at the .

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity and Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-34) also spoke at the reception.

"This election is about jobs, the economy and energy," Susan Allen told about 50 George Allen for U.S. Senate supporters.  Former governor and U.S. Senator Allen faces former governor Tim Kaine (D) in the Nov. 6 general election. They are vying to replace Democrat Jim Webb, who is not running for re-election. Allen lost the seat to Webb in 2006.

Find out what's happening in Burkewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The biggest problem with our economy is that it does not produce jobs," said Chao. She said the current administration's "bad public policy decisions about energy" acerbate that problem. The wife of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), said the U.S. economy needs to be adding 250,000 new jobs a month just to keep up. "Without jobs our people suffer," she said.

Allen and Kaine clashed on how best to address the deficit and national debt in their recent debate in Hot Springs, Va.  On the issue of the deficit reduction measure of sequestration, for example, Kaine says he would have voted for it had he been in Congress last August, while Allen says he would not. 

Find out what's happening in Burkewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Allen said that if the sequestration is carried out, Virginia would suffer severe job losses and it would be devastating to the Virginia economy. He put the number of jobs lost at 200,000," reported The Epoch Times.

"Kaine said that Virginia Republican elected officials, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Congressman Eric Cantor, supported the deal, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and that it will bring national spending down $1 trillion," according to the paper.

There are three more Allen - Kaine debates currently scheduled.

  • Sept. 20 in McLean, sponsored by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce
  • Oct. 8 in Richmond
  • Oct. 18 in Blacksburg


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