On the road again, Douglas kicks off campaign

Gov. Jim Douglas: Politicker PhotoGov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) officially starts his bid for re-election today, kicking off a ‘Every County Counts Tour' that will take the governor through all of Vermont's 14 counties.

Douglas campaign manager Dennise Casey said the events are intended to highlight Douglas' "commitment to hearing every voice, in every corner of the state." Douglas' mobility is believed to be one of his greatest strengths against his challenger, House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho).

"Jim Douglas has personally and virtually met every person in the state," said Kevin Ellis, partner of the public affairs firm and lobby group Kimbell Sherman Ellis. "Even if you disagree with his policies, he has come to your child's school and that is an enormous obstacle for Symington to surmount."

Although Ellis believes that Symington can overcome the governor's skills in getting know his constituents, he also notes it will take a lot of energy to mount a serious campaign against the incumbent who was first elected governor in 2002. When kicking off her first statewide campaign last month, Symington held events in 9 counties.

Symington's communications director Michael Carrese is confident. "Its not her first time going around the state," Carrese told PolitickerVT.com. "She recruited candidates to run for representative which is why she has popular support in the house."

Carrese added that Symington's time as house speaker has prepared her for a statewide campaign. "Being a speaker you get to hear concerns from across the state," he said.

Symington commented on Douglas' tour in a statement: "I welcome Governor Douglas into the race, and hope he will commit to having a positive debate on the best way to take Vermont from being stuck in neutral to shifting us into gear on critical issues."