A Whirlwind Week of Excitement

We have just completed a whirlwind week of campaign events! I'm not bragging, but I'd put our week up against any campaign, anywhere.

We started out on Wednesday with Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. The Roanoke times reported the following.

"I've been an old-timey Democrat for 78 years," Stanley said.

At intermission, Ferguson said the event marked a transition for the campaign.

"We've taken very seriously some comments that our campaign has been negative," Ferguson said. "We've told the truth. My opponent has not denied or disputed one thing I've said."

In past months, Ferguson has attacked Dudley for accepting a General Assembly stipend for an office, which he runs out of his home; for allegedly arguing for his son to be appointed as a circuit court judge; and for housing illegal immigrants in a mobile home park he runs near Doe Run.

Ferguson said he will continue to "tell the truth" about Dudley but will change his focus and start talking more about issues, including transportation, boating safety on Smith Mountain Lake, economic development and law enforcement.

Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, a Roanoke political operative volunteering for Ferguson, said a new wave of radio advertisements will be released to reflect the change in the campaign.

Before and after the speech, Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys played two sets of bluegrass tunes, peppered with occasional endorsements of Ferguson. Stanley also complained about the price of gasoline.

"When I go to fill up the bus now it takes about $800," Stanley said, resulting in laughter from the audience. "I don't now how much longer I can continue to run that bus."

Click here to view a clip of Dr. Ralph singing "Oh Death."

There were close to 600 folks in attendance at the concert.

On Saturday and Sunday we were fortunate enough to have Ben "Cooter" Jones, from the Dukes of Hazzard visit with us and participate in two events in Franklin and Floyd Counties.

Cooter brought the General Lee with him and signed autographs and took photos and visited with his fans for hours at each event. We were also fortunate enough to have him sing a few songs for us. Here is a clip of Cooter singing "Good Ol' Boys."

Over two days we met more than 700 fans and shared with them Eric's ideas for the Ninth District and his plans once he gets to Richmond.