Follow along carefully here.
First, Toyota is rumored to be looking at a site near Roanoke for the construction of a new assembly plant.
Then, Ford announces the closing of its facility over in Norfolk.
Then, Governor Kaine announces that ""The Norfolk Assembly plant has a skilled, motivated, proven workforce and my administration will do everything it can to help Norfolk and the Hampton Roads region market this resource to other economic development prospects." (link)
Then Governor Kaine follows through on his pledge.
And Toyota is now looking at Norfolk for its assembly plant:
Of course the plant closing and Toyota's change of direction had nothing to do with one another:Toyota scouts Norfolk area for new plant
By Battinto Batts Jr., The Virginian-PilotNORFOLK — Toyota representatives scouted sites in Hampton Roads last week for a new automotive assembly plant, local officials said Thursday. (link)
Although that may be true, it is also true that Governor Kaine was in Detroit in mid-February begging Ford to not close the Norfolk Assembly Plant.Coincidentally, the tour took place prior to Ford’s April 13th announcement that it will close its Norfolk Assembly Plant in 2008.
So now Roanoke is left holding the bag. It's an odd way for the Governor to pay back the only part of Southwest Virginia where a majority of the electorate actually voted for him.