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Former Governor Mark Warner (center) and Governor Tim Kaine entertain on strings at the Floyd Country Store’s Friday Night Jamboree. Shown in the background is a member of the Jugbusters.

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Governors win the crowd

Special to the Press
By Doug Thompson

Katherine Johnson of Fries drove to Floyd Friday to see former Gov. Mark Warner. It was, she said, worth the drive.

“He should be running for President,” she said after hugging the former governor as he entered the Floyd County Store.

Warner, the first Virginia governor to visit Floyd while in office, returned to the Country Store Friday with Gov. Tim Kaine and other Democratic politicians to stump for local candidates, dance with participants of the Friday Night Jamboree and prove to all who watched that he can’t play the banjo.

But the appreciative crowd crammed into the store didn’t mind. They cheered, whooped and hollered while Warner strummed a banjo with his thumb and joined Kaine and the Jugbusters to sing “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain.”

The stop was the first in a weekend swing through Southwest Virginia to drum up support for Democrats for Tuesday’s elections for local and state offices.

Kaine, who became just the second sitting governor to visit Floyd, played harmonica with the Jugbusters before grabbing a guitar to join Warner. The crowd agreed he was better on the harmonica than a stringed instrument but he didn’t care.

“Normally, I don’t’ care for politicians but these guys sure know how to get down,” said one member of the crowd who wouldn’t identify himself. “I like that.”

Earlier, Kaine and delegate candidate Eric Ferguson visited Floyd County High School for the start of the varsity football game between the Buffaloes and Auburn. Kaine shook hands with parents and students entering the game and then greeted the players.

The stop at the high school was added to the governor’s schedule after meet-and-greets at The Bank of Floyd and Slaughters’ Grocery Store were cancelled.

Kaine said he thought the shifting political winds gave Democrats a shot at winning seats in the traditionally-Republican areas of Southwestern Virginia.

“Voters want change at all levels of government,” he said.

Warner said the political swing gave him an excuse to come to Floyd and party with old friends and supporters.

“Folks around here know how to have a good time,” he said. “I like that.”

And while Kaine may be the sitting governor of Virginia, the show at the Country Store belonged to Warner, who will be running for John Warner’s Senate seat in 2008 when the veteran Senator steps down.

“He’s got my vote,” said Andrea Wilson of Stuart, “even if he can’t play the banjo.”