Following Corey Stewart’s widely-rebuked comments trashing Danville in the first Senate debate on Saturday, Senator Tim Kaine’s campaign is launching a five-figure digital and radio ad campaign informing Danville voters about Stewart’s remarks and the local blowback to them.
The ads feature Stewart saying, “Today, [Danville is] boarded up. It’s boarded up. People have left. Young people have left. The opiate crisis is completely out of control. The murder rate is way up. All crimes are way up. Suicides are up. It’s sad.” In the debate, Kaine responded, “What’s sad is you trashing Danville.”
Since the debate, Stewart has taken heat from local Danville officials from both parties, as well as local media and editorial boards, for his false comments. Vice Mayor Lee Vogel tweeted, “Disappointing that Corey Stewart is using @BreitbartNews talking points about #DanvilleVA in his #VaSen debate today. We’d be happy to show you, or anyone, the great work that is being done here by many ppl. We’re a great city. Not a talking point.” City Councilman Adam Tomer added, “Danville is more than a talking point or something you’d read on a blog. If Corey Stewart actually visited Danville for more than a Confederate costume ball, he’d see that this city is on the rise.” The local TV headline was, “Danville leaders believe city headed in right direction, despite Stewart’s statement,” reporting: “Danville’s city leaders weren’t happy about how Corey Stewart described the city during Saturday’s debate.”
The Roanoke Times editorialized, “Why Stewart is wrong about Danville,” and under the headline, “Stewart’s Cheap Shot at Danville,” the Danville Register & Bee editorial board proclaimed: “Don’t use us to score some cheap, political points.”
The ads contrast Stewart’s statements with Kaine’s longtime support for Danville, a region he has strongly supported going back to his days as Governor when he helped open the IKEA manufacturing plant there; Kaine visited that plant again in April. As Governor, he announced hundreds of new jobs and millions of new state investments in Danville. As Senator, Kaine has supported millions of dollars in federal funding for Danville, testified at the International Trade Commission on behalf of fairer trade practices for communities like Danville, and has led efforts to help recruit businesses to locate in Southside and take advantage of its existent manufacturing base.
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