Virginia Democrats Decide
races to watch 12:56 AM
by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics
Virginia Democrats have one hell of a tough choice before them when they go to the polls today (Tuesday) to choose their nominee for the governor race against Bob McDonnell in the fall.
Having kept my own finger on the pulse of the race for quite some time now, and originally being interested when Terry McAuliffe announced he would join the race, I'm now certain of only one thing - that three great guys are running, with three different sets of priorities and three very different backgrounds. The best choice is a matter of opinion more than history.
Out surprisingly in front has recently surged Creigh Deeds, a member of the state senate from western Virginia who had been considered the underdog "nice guy". Deeds is widely considered the most conservative of the three Democrats, though the Washington Post endorsement in late May urges readers to take a deeper look into his record on the controversy over the so-called "gun show loophole". The paper's endorsement may well help him cut into McAuliffe and Moran's co-domination over the dearly coveted Northern Virginia hub of Democratic voters. It's also worth mentioning that Deeds has been extremely successful in reaching compromise and common ground to move bills out of committee where other legislators have failed. However, many of those bills have been DOA as soon as they reached a floor vote anyway.
Just behind (or previously even with) Deeds has slipped Terry McAuliffe, former DNC chair and campaign chairman for Hillary Clinton. McAuliffe's large rolodex and amazing campaign donations have made this late-entrant a formidable candidate, though many Virginians consider him a carpetbagger. The title may ultimately be unfair, because McAuliffe has lived in the state for 17 years and boasts that many of his business enterprises have been Virginia-based. Money aside, McAuliffe has faced the harshest criticism of all three opponents, primarily for the shortcomings of the Democratic Party under his chairmanship as well as the failure of the Clinton campaign. In the past month, Terry has not been bashful about barnstorming the state with high profile friends in tow such as former President Bill Clinton and arist Will.I.Am. A staple of the McAuliffe campaign has been his pledge not to take the campaign into the gutter against fellow Democrats, though it's worth noting that Senior Campaign Strategist Mo Elleithee sent out an email to McAuliffe supporters just this Sunday attacking the Deeds campaign for his record on gun control.
Having slipped from first to third in polling is Brian Moran, the powerhouse state delegate with second-most cash on hand. Moran has a long history of working hard for Virginians, voting to protect the environment and against new coal plants, and is widely known as a voice against so-called big business. He has been harshly critical of environmental damage allegedly caused by Smithfield Foods of Virginia which is speculated to have some link to the outbreak of swine flu in the U.S. Moran has fiercely criticized both McAuliffe and Deeds for their gray-area positioning on GLBT rights. Along with McAuliffe, Moran's power base is considered to be Northern Virginia, his home. He claims to have the record, while stating that the other two candidates are high on rhetoric.
Clearly the environment seems to be the key issue for Delegate Moran, closely followed by public safety. State Senator Deeds touts his credentials on the issues of jobs and transportation. McAuliffe has staked his claim on jobs and alternative energy.
Whomever claims the lead tomorrow will go up against Bob McDonnell, the Republican former Attorney General for the state who narrowly defeated Deeds four years ago for the position after outspending Deeds by a margin of 2 to 1.
McDonnell's victory would be considered the beginning of a GOP comeback, and the race is not being taken lightly by the RNC which has vowed to put broad and deep resources into the fight to take Virginia back. Likewise, the Democratic nominee will likely have the full support of the DNC under Tim Kaine, a fellow Virginian. Just as appalled by the presidential loss in 2008 as the Republicans are, the Democrats are equally excited by the opportunity to turn red-state Virginia into consistently winnable turf. Whether the Republican or the Democrat ultimately wins will be the context through which we enter the 2010 midterm elections. It is a big deal.
Virginia Democrats, I don't envy your choice. Think carefully before you pull the lever.
UPDATE:
As expected, Creigh Deeds won the primary today, but with an above expected 50% of the vote to McAuliffe's 26% and Moran's 24%. Though Moran and McAuliffe both considered NoVa their home turf, Deeds won almost every territory in the area after bitter in-fighting between the two locals. Moran will go on to face Bob McDonnell in the fall election.
Virginia Democrats have one hell of a tough choice before them when they go to the polls today (Tuesday) to choose their nominee for the governor race against Bob McDonnell in the fall.
Having kept my own finger on the pulse of the race for quite some time now, and originally being interested when Terry McAuliffe announced he would join the race, I'm now certain of only one thing - that three great guys are running, with three different sets of priorities and three very different backgrounds. The best choice is a matter of opinion more than history.
Out surprisingly in front has recently surged Creigh Deeds, a member of the state senate from western Virginia who had been considered the underdog "nice guy". Deeds is widely considered the most conservative of the three Democrats, though the Washington Post endorsement in late May urges readers to take a deeper look into his record on the controversy over the so-called "gun show loophole". The paper's endorsement may well help him cut into McAuliffe and Moran's co-domination over the dearly coveted Northern Virginia hub of Democratic voters. It's also worth mentioning that Deeds has been extremely successful in reaching compromise and common ground to move bills out of committee where other legislators have failed. However, many of those bills have been DOA as soon as they reached a floor vote anyway.
Just behind (or previously even with) Deeds has slipped Terry McAuliffe, former DNC chair and campaign chairman for Hillary Clinton. McAuliffe's large rolodex and amazing campaign donations have made this late-entrant a formidable candidate, though many Virginians consider him a carpetbagger. The title may ultimately be unfair, because McAuliffe has lived in the state for 17 years and boasts that many of his business enterprises have been Virginia-based. Money aside, McAuliffe has faced the harshest criticism of all three opponents, primarily for the shortcomings of the Democratic Party under his chairmanship as well as the failure of the Clinton campaign. In the past month, Terry has not been bashful about barnstorming the state with high profile friends in tow such as former President Bill Clinton and arist Will.I.Am. A staple of the McAuliffe campaign has been his pledge not to take the campaign into the gutter against fellow Democrats, though it's worth noting that Senior Campaign Strategist Mo Elleithee sent out an email to McAuliffe supporters just this Sunday attacking the Deeds campaign for his record on gun control.
Having slipped from first to third in polling is Brian Moran, the powerhouse state delegate with second-most cash on hand. Moran has a long history of working hard for Virginians, voting to protect the environment and against new coal plants, and is widely known as a voice against so-called big business. He has been harshly critical of environmental damage allegedly caused by Smithfield Foods of Virginia which is speculated to have some link to the outbreak of swine flu in the U.S. Moran has fiercely criticized both McAuliffe and Deeds for their gray-area positioning on GLBT rights. Along with McAuliffe, Moran's power base is considered to be Northern Virginia, his home. He claims to have the record, while stating that the other two candidates are high on rhetoric.
Clearly the environment seems to be the key issue for Delegate Moran, closely followed by public safety. State Senator Deeds touts his credentials on the issues of jobs and transportation. McAuliffe has staked his claim on jobs and alternative energy.
Whomever claims the lead tomorrow will go up against Bob McDonnell, the Republican former Attorney General for the state who narrowly defeated Deeds four years ago for the position after outspending Deeds by a margin of 2 to 1.
McDonnell's victory would be considered the beginning of a GOP comeback, and the race is not being taken lightly by the RNC which has vowed to put broad and deep resources into the fight to take Virginia back. Likewise, the Democratic nominee will likely have the full support of the DNC under Tim Kaine, a fellow Virginian. Just as appalled by the presidential loss in 2008 as the Republicans are, the Democrats are equally excited by the opportunity to turn red-state Virginia into consistently winnable turf. Whether the Republican or the Democrat ultimately wins will be the context through which we enter the 2010 midterm elections. It is a big deal.
Virginia Democrats, I don't envy your choice. Think carefully before you pull the lever.
UPDATE:
As expected, Creigh Deeds won the primary today, but with an above expected 50% of the vote to McAuliffe's 26% and Moran's 24%. Though Moran and McAuliffe both considered NoVa their home turf, Deeds won almost every territory in the area after bitter in-fighting between the two locals. Moran will go on to face Bob McDonnell in the fall election.
Posted by Nick Stone
on 12:56 AM.
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