Newly Blue Virginia Seeks New Leader
10:02 AM
The Virginia Governor race is heating up, and Terry McAuliffe isn't going down without a fight.
Despite never having formally held office in the Commonwealth, McAuliffe believes he will run very competitively against State Senator Creigh Deeds, a known fighter with broad appeal and State Delegate Brian Moran . Whichever wins his party's nomination will continue to square off against likely Republican nominee Bob McDonnell, the state Attorney General.
This weekend, McAuliffe came out with the first TV Ad of the campaign during the Super Bowl, locally televised in Hampton Roads. The 30-second ad quickly details his campaign pledges, and was played only once, though the campaign rightly calculated that its notariety would earn free online play and distribution.
Although Senator Deeds and Delegate Moran have been in the race a year longer than McAuliffe, they are being drowned in fundraising against him. Moran has significant endorsements, and Deeds arguably the best polling against McDonnell. McAuliffe, former DNC Chairman and Campaign Chairman for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, has by far the greatest rolodex for national support and fundraising.
Still, even after being involved in state politics for 20 years, some believe he bares the stigma of "carpetbagger", and wonder whether or not Virginians will accept him as their leader. Deeds' political strength in Western and Southern Virginia should keep him very competitive against Moran, who has significant following in the eastern part of the state. McAuliffe hopes to cut into their bases by showing very strong in the Northern suburbs and chipping away at the heavily military Eastern townships.
This will be one campaign - especially the ad war - not to be missed.
Despite never having formally held office in the Commonwealth, McAuliffe believes he will run very competitively against State Senator Creigh Deeds, a known fighter with broad appeal and State Delegate Brian Moran . Whichever wins his party's nomination will continue to square off against likely Republican nominee Bob McDonnell, the state Attorney General.
This weekend, McAuliffe came out with the first TV Ad of the campaign during the Super Bowl, locally televised in Hampton Roads. The 30-second ad quickly details his campaign pledges, and was played only once, though the campaign rightly calculated that its notariety would earn free online play and distribution.
Although Senator Deeds and Delegate Moran have been in the race a year longer than McAuliffe, they are being drowned in fundraising against him. Moran has significant endorsements, and Deeds arguably the best polling against McDonnell. McAuliffe, former DNC Chairman and Campaign Chairman for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, has by far the greatest rolodex for national support and fundraising.
Still, even after being involved in state politics for 20 years, some believe he bares the stigma of "carpetbagger", and wonder whether or not Virginians will accept him as their leader. Deeds' political strength in Western and Southern Virginia should keep him very competitive against Moran, who has significant following in the eastern part of the state. McAuliffe hopes to cut into their bases by showing very strong in the Northern suburbs and chipping away at the heavily military Eastern townships.
This will be one campaign - especially the ad war - not to be missed.
Posted by Nick Stone
on 10:02 AM.
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