Jobs and economic growth were on the table today, as Democratic Senate candidate Tim Kaine sat down with a group of women in Roanoke County, but it was another issue that generated the strongest reaction.
The Kaine campaign organized a roundtable on issues of importance to women with more than a dozen supporters at Mill Mountain Coffee. The group discussed a wide range of issues, but access to contraception, and abortion rights drew the most vocal response.
As soon as we get bogged down on wedge issues, then we stop progress on the issues where we need to make the most progress," Kaine told reporters after the event. "And the women around the table I think were frustrated that contraception is being used as an issue to divide people at a time when we ought to be working together to solve these economic issues."
Kaine was also scheduled to meet with seniors and retirees during a similar meeting in Martinsville. Following that event, the Republican Party of Virginia issued a response, from Virginia Senator Bill Stanley, R- Moneta.
"Tim Kaine's discussion with Martinsville seniors should include why he called ObamaCare a 'great achievement' when it cuts $500 Billion from Medicare. Seniors in our community deserve honest answers, not scare tactics or misinformation campaigns mired in the politics of this election. In November, Martinsville seniors have a clear choice between Tim Kaine's record of supporting Medicare cuts or the Republican commitment to strengthening Medicare and Social Security both now and for future generations."
Four Republicans are vying for their party's U.S. Senate nomination. George Allen, E.W. Jackson, Bob Marshall and Jamie Radtke will face off in the June 12th GOP primary.
