Senator Warner met with members of the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce this morning and talked about the economy and the need for a tax structure and policy choices that encourage economic development, job creation and greater innovation and global competitiveness:

"There are going to be some more tough days ahead -- it would be a mistake to pretend otherwise -- but our economy is headed in the right direction. We’ve got jobs that need to be done, and people who want to do them. We need to lead the world in manufacturing the clean, safe fuels of the 21st century -- like next-generation batteries, modern and safe nuclear power, and energy sources that will never run out, like the wind and the sun. We’ve led every technological revolution of the last century, and there’s no reason why we can’t lead this one," Senator Warner said.

We then stopped by South Richmond's DuPont Spruance facility to highlight the company's recent decision to invest $20 million to test a new fiber-based components for electric car batteries of the future.

At a town hall meeting with DuPont employees, Senator Warner congratulated the company for being a leader in research and innovation:

"Just a few years ago, American businesses could only make two-percent of the world’s advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.

With recent investments like DuPont's, the experts say in just a few more years we could have up to 40 percent of the world’s capacity. For years, we’ve heard about manufacturing jobs disappearing overseas.

Well, companies like DuPont are showing us how manufacturing can come back right here in the United States of America, right back here to Virginia. I look forward to the day when, with your help, we export these next-generation, clean energy products and technologies around the globe."

Later, at a town hall meeting in Farmville with community and business leaders from eight surrounding counties, Senator Warner was asked about the hyperpartisan political tone in Washington:

"It goes without saying that the political atmosphere in Washington today is simply too partisan. There’s too much gamesmanship, fingerpointing and “cable news noise” -- from Fox News and from MSNBC."

AP's Bob Lewis filed this story from the Farmville town hall.

Senator Warner started the day on the morning show at Lite 98 FM. Click here to listen.