Victory 2008 Bus Tour Update

Today the Victory 2008 bus is in Southeastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia. Chairman Duncan and I are visiting Victory Centers to thank and encourage our volunteers many of whom are Pink Elephant members.

In Zanesville, Ohio one woman has personally made over 8,000 calls!

This election is far from over and every call and door knock you make will help.

I know you realize across America women are managing the Victory Centers, coordinating the door-to-door efforts and planning the rallies. You are making it happen.

Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson - Victory 2008 Bus Tour

RNC Chairman Mike Duncan and I are on a Victory 2008 bus traveling across Ohio and West Virginia. It is so encouraging to meet so many of our Pink Elephants working in our Victory Centers to be sure John McCain and Sarah Palin are elected to lead our country.

Last night a Pink Elephant volunteer from Alabama was helping in Ohio and told me how she has been able to put the Talking Points to good use.

Five days to go -- your efforts will make a difference.

Keep up your good work!

Jo Ann Davidson

Co-Chairman
Republican National Committee

Kristen Kelly Fisher, NY Women for McCain Co-Chair

Hi! My name is Kristen and I am a Co-Chair of New York Women for McCain-Palin and a member of the Women's National Finance Council for Victory 2008. The last year and a half has been very exciting as I have had the opportunity to participate in the most democratic of experiences in the United States – the election cycle. It has been my honor to work to help elect John McCain President of the United States of America.

I am a firm believer in volunteerism and the positive impact it makes in our communities and our country. John McCain has always put his country first and he has inspired me to do the same. Over the course of my experience, I have been blessed with many opportunities to learn new things and to meet incredible people.

In New York we have focused our efforts on creating a dynamic network of women who support the McCain-Palin campaign. We have spent much of our time focused on voter to voter contact, rallies and the sharing of information regarding volunteer opportunities. My experiences with the campaign have taken me all over the great state of New York and across the country. At each place I have visited, I have encountered fabulous, energized and exciting supporters. The opportunity to meet and work with such dedicated and talented women has been life altering.

This has been an incredible journey. One I will always treasure. I look forward to the day Senator McCain is President McCain and Governor Palin is Vice President Palin.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the efforts of my dear friend and co-chair in this initiative, Elizabeth Mahoney. Elizabeth has been instrumental in working with me to create the framework from which we have organized ourselves. Her knowledge and insight to the political process and her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty is awe-inspiring. We have had great fun working together.

Also a special thank you to RNC Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson whose insights have enlightened me and whose Pink Elephant talking points have kept me going each week!

Kristen Kelly Fisher is the Co-Chair of New York Women for McCain-Palin and a member of the Women's National Finance Council for Victory 2008.

Katy Johnson

As a college student in our nation’s capital, I am blessed with many unique opportunities. During this Presidential election especially, I am able to witness and participate in events that will shape our country’s future at this pivotal time. In looking towards my own future at this uncertain time, I place my trust in the Republican Party to ensure that our country is strong and secure in the years to come.

Through the War on Terror, President Bush has worked to safeguard our nation and protect the opportunities available to young people today. Without a strong stance on national security, the other freedoms and liberties of our nation are compromised and weakened. With John McCain as President, our security will remain the primary concern, and thereby everyone’s futures will be brighter.

As we place our trust in the Republicans to keep our nation secure, they also place in the American people confidence to take the many opportunities our nation presents us, and control them how we see fit. I believe that in America, hard work should be rewarded, and that the government should never punish success. In this sense, the Republican Party supports the hard working Americans who form the backbone of this country, and promote a freer and stronger America.

Katy Johnson is a sophomore at The George Washington University, majoring in Political Science. She is currently interning in the Co-Chairman’s Office of the Republican National Committee.

RNC Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson

Over the last two weeks I have spent a few days on the Victory 2008 Straight Talk Bus visiting Victory Centers, touring small businesses, holding roundtable discussions with community leaders, enjoying some community festivals and talking with many voters on why this is such a critical election for the future of our country.

The enthusiasm and excitement in the Victory Centers is contagious and clearly shows that Republicans are energized and dedicated to doing what needs to be done to be sure our supporters – Republicans, Democrats and Independents – cast their votes.

Those riding on the bus change each day and include veterans who have been prisoners of war with John McCain, Olympic medal winners, professional athletes, coaches, members of the McCain family, state and local office holders, community leaders and Democrat Women for McCain. Each speaks about why they are supporting the McCain-Palin ticket. Many times their remarks bring tears to the eyes of those in the audience.

Last week we participated in the parade at the Woolly Bear Festival in Vermillion, Ohio. Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii was on the bus and wanted to see a real “woolly bear.” Urban legend claims that a woolly bear caterpillar depending on the width of the colorful band around it, can forecast the severity of approaching winter.

The Governor saw a young girl with a woolly bear and the attached picture will help you all see what a woolly bear looks like.

Also, late last week the Victory 2008 bus stopped at McCain-Palin Campaign Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia to talk with the volunteers manning the phones and painting signs for rallies in Virginia. Former Governor and first Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security Tom Ridge gave a rousing speech as did Roberta McCain, John’s mother. Roberta then hopped on the bus for a two-day swing through Virginia. We’ll be sure to post more photos from the bus tour soon.

As we post this blog, there are three weeks before the final decision is made on the 2008 presidential election. Don’t be fooled by the polls – as John Zogby, a national pollster, said in a Boston Herald article October 9th, “It still can break one way or the other.”

Thanks for everything you are doing. You can and will make a difference in the election breaking for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

PS. If urban legend is correct we are going to have a mild winter!

Jo Ann Davidson was re-elected Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee in Washington D.C. on January 19, 2007. She reaffirmed her commitment to growing the Party and developing a strong grassroots political organization. She was first elected Co-Chairman in 2005. Davidson was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for 20 years and served as Speaker of the House from 1995-2000. As Chairman of the Ohio House Republican Campaign Committee from 1986-2000, she spearheaded the successful effort to return the Republicans to the majority in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1994, for the first time in 22 years.

Robin Smith, Tennessee Republican Party Chairman

The motivation that stirs the passion I have for politics is to leave a legacy of a good government based on the principles that founded our nation and serve as guideposts of that which is good and decent. I frequently explain that “I’m a Christian, first, an American, second, and because of those two distinctions, I choose to be a Republican since the party best represents my faith and my country.”

My background, education and experience in health care and sales and marketing shows that my interest and volunteer spirit that have brought me to the role in which I currently serve. Hard work and a servant’s heart does go a long way in politics.

Politics has been a lifelong interest of mine, with my first campaign resulting in victory for my Tennessee Girls' State Governor candidate, followed by my own victory as a Senator in the University of Tennessee's Student Government.

Returning to Hamilton County to pursue a career in sales and marketing after graduating from UT and working in critical care medicine for almost 3 years, I immediately got involved in Republican politics. Whether placing yard and road side signs for local candidates, writing letters to the editor or running the countywide campaign for trustees, I am a living example of grassroots politics.

While I served as Chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party from 1998-2002, the TN GOP made gains with the only GOP legislative victory- unseating an incumbent Democratic State Representative. That same year, the local county GOP also won the local Sheriff's race by upsetting the Democratic Deputy Sheriff. During this tenure, the local party established a sustainable fundraising program, began an annual golf tournament, launched a website and was honored by the local NAACP and City of Chattanooga for its work and commitment to the inner city children of Chattanooga.

Active in the U.S. Senate campaigns of Senators Frist, Thompson, Alexander and Corker along with leadership roles in both presidential campaigns of George W. Bush, I served as a surrogate speaker and as an organizational contact for the candidates and the Tennessee and National Republican Party Organizations.

In 2004, I worked directly with Cathy Gillespie, Chairman of “W Stands for Women,” to increase the voter turnout of women in Tennessee and the Southeast. I, additionally, served as an elected delegate for the 2004 Republican National Committee Convention in New York City.

Currently, I serve on the RNC Women's Advisory Committee as a panelist for Women's Leadership Conferences and hosted a regional forum hosted in Nashville, better equipping activists with campaigns, election law and media knowledge.

On August 4, 2007, Robin Smith was unanimously elected Chairman by the Tennessee State Executive Committee.