Andreas Jeninga/The Hoya Democratic frontrunner John Kerry (Mass.) addressed a boisterous crowd of supporters at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., after resounding primary wins in Virginia and Tennessee.

To the chants of “J.K. All the Way” and “We Want Kerry,” Democratic presidential frontrunner John Kerry took the stage at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., on Tuesday night coming off of decisive primary victories in Virginia and Tennessee.

The wins underscored the Massachusetts senator’s viability in the South.

“Once again, the message rings out loud and clear. Americans are voting for change – East, West, North and now in the South,” Kerry said before a boisterous crowd of over 1,500 supporters who had gathered in the atrium of George ason’s Johnson Center to cheer him on.

With the feel of a political convention, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, who campaigned hard for Kerry in his state, introduced Kerry complete with upbeat music – including James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and U2’s “Beautiful Day” – that set the mood for the evening.

“The returns are in, and John Kerry won in every part of Virginia tonight,” Warner said.

Kerry’s win came on top of more endorsements Tuesday, with one from the Teamsters Union and another from Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, which hold its primary next Tuesday.

Kerry finished ahead of John Edwards (N.C.) by sizeable leads – 25 percent and 15 percent – in Virginia and Tennessee, respectively, and forced the early exit of Wesley Clark from the race.

“America is coming together,” Kerry told supporters with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, at his side. “And together we intend to move America forward. And this campaign now moves forward.”

Kerry has now won 12 contests while losing just two, in South Carolina to Edwards and in Oklahoma to Clark.

Tuesday’s victories confirmed Kerry’s electability across the country, especially in the South, where he had hoped to lose his image as a liberal Democrat from the Northeast.

Kerry’s supporters in Virginia had hoped to do the same.

“I declare we claim John Kerry as a son of Virginia,” Larry Framme, former Chairman of the State Democratic Committee, said.

Former frontrunner Howard Dean had abandoned most primaries after losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, instead focusing on next Tuesday’s contest in Wisconsin.

But Kerry looked ahead of his rivals Tuesday night, focusing on President Bush.

“Our vision is for prosperity, not just for some, and opportunity, not just for some, but prosperity and opportunity for all Americans, shared across lines, shared across racial divide, shared by all in this country because that is who we are as a nation,” Kerry said. “And from Missouri to Wisconsin to Ohio, from the heartland to both coasts, the wreckage of the Bush economy can be seen all around us.”

Kerry also promised to keep jobs in America, maintain veterans’ benefits and stand up against HMOs and pharmaceutical companies.

The audience booed when Kerry mentioned Bush by name, but Kerry chided the audience and said he would remain positive. “No, no, no, no. We’re not going to boo in the course of this campaign,” he said. “We are going to cheer for what we’re going to do in this country.”

Kerry, who voted to support the U.S.-led war in Iraq, chastised Bush for making American less secure.

“The truth is that he has made us weaker militarily by overextending the armed forces of the United States and turning our guards and reserves into active duty,” he said, warning Bush and his chief political strategist, Karl Rove, that he would be prepared to make national security the central issue of the campaign.

“We have three words for him that we know they understand: Bring it on,” he said, mocking the President’s statement made toward insurgents in Iraq.

After the 15-minute victory speech, Kerry stayed for several minutes to sign autographs from students who had come out to support him.

“And I thank all, all of those people across this country who have become part, literally, of a family in this campaign. I will never forget what you have done,” he said, “And I will never stop trying to earn and live up to your trust and your respect.”

George Mason’s newspaper, The Broadside, sponsored both Kerry on Tuesday and Edwards on Monday.

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