GOP supporters expecting to listen to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speak at a political rally at Richmond International Airport Friday were likely disappointed when only his second-in-command, vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan, addressed them. Romney planned to stop in Richmond, but made a last minute detour to survey the aftermath of category 1 storm Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana, just hours after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention.
Political pundits questioned Romney’s decision to bypass Virginia — which Lieut. Gov. Bill Bolling and others have described as a “key swing state” — especially so soon after President Barack Obama’s visit to the battleground state last week.
Experts expect new voting laws in Virginia to add to the unpredictably of election results in the state. The laws taking effect for the first time this year require voters to bring identification with them to the polls — though, unlike laws passed in some states, do not require photo identification.
But Center for Politics Director Larry Sabato said the cancellation wouldn’t impact Romney’s chances for victory in Virginia, as he’s likely to make a campaign appearance in the state before November.
Instead, the decision to visit Louisiana was politically strategic, Sabato said.
“It’s important that Romney show the flag in the hurricane zone,” he said in an email. “The message is ‘I care.’ It helps to humanize him further — and separates him from [former President] George W. Bush for whom Hurricane Katrina was a giant political disaster.”
Fourth-year Engineering student Alex Reber, an alternate Virginia delegate in last week’s Republican National Convention, applauded Romney’s visit to the site of the Hurricane Isaac wreckage, which left more than 600,000 Louisiana residents without power.
“I think it’s good [Romney] didn’t come to Virginia because he got huge press for Louisiana,” he said.
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