Hot Air Mobile
Home The Vault Gear About
Hot Air -- get your fill


Deeds beats McAuliffe, Moran in stunner

posted at 10:09 am on June 10, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | regular view

The Democratic primary in Virginia yesterday pitted a veteran political fixer and former head of the national party, Terry McAuliffe, against Brian Moran, the brother of a popular and powerful Congressman.  Creigh Deeds, a state legislator with more conservative credentials, barely got mentioned in political analyses.  Yet yesterday he not only beat the favored McAuliffe and Moran, but he beat them both combined and in every area of the state to grab the nomination for governor:

R. Creigh Deeds, a longtime state legislator from rural Bath County, won a stunning come-from-behind victory in the Democratic primary for Virginia governor last night, overwhelming a pair of better-funded and better-positioned opponents.

Deeds beat Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe in every region of the state, including vote-rich Northern Virginia, despite a pro-gun stance and relatively conservative positions that are out of line with many of the area’s voters. His victory was so dominant that he captured 10 of the state’s 11 congressional districts, including the one held by Moran’s brother, U.S. Rep. James P. Moran Jr.

All three campaigns and state political experts had agreed that Deeds was coming on strong in the final days of the race, but no one expected him — or the other candidates — to come close to winning the 50 percent of the vote that he captured. In an e-mail sent to supporters less than two hours before polls closed, McAuliffe’s campaign predicted that “this thing could come down to the wire.” McAuliffe came in second, with 26 percent of the vote, followed by Brian Moran with 24 percent.

Deeds, 51, will face Republican Robert F. McDonnell in a general election battle that amounts to a rematch of the race for attorney general four years ago, which McDonnell barely won after a late surge by Deeds.

Any time McAuliffe gets a setback, it seems like a win for Republicans.  Furthermore, the overwhelming victory for a relative conservative in Virginia should be good news for the GOP.  Unfortunately, that pits a conservative Democrat against a conservative Republican in a state that has gone purple the last few cycles.  Bob McDonnell would have an easier time painting McAuliffe as too liberal and out of touch for most Virginians, while Deeds showed that he can compete anywhere in the state.

Jim Geraghty sees a bright spot in the numbers:

The good news for Creigh Deeds: He won Arlington County by a stunning margin: 47.2 percent to Moran’s 36.8 percent and McAuliffe’s 15.9 percent.

The good news for Republican Bob McDonnell: Deeds did so with 9,308 votes. When Tim Kaine won that county in 2005’s general election, he did so with 42,319 votes.

If the GOP wants to rebuild its coalition of states for winning the Presidency, it has to start in Virginia, a state it never should have lost in the first place.  We’ll talk more with Jim today on The Ed Morrissey Show about this race and its import for the national scene.


Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Comments

Comment pages: 1 2

I call the VA Governor’s race a MUST WIN for the GOP this fall. MUST WIN!

SouthernGent on June 10, 2009 at 10:12 AM

This was widely expected.

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:13 AM

I have to admit, I’m a little relieved – either way, McAuliffe isn’t going to be Virginia’s next governor. He campaigned pretty heavily down my way, and honestly, I can’t stand him.

If I’m still living here come election-time, McDonnell’s got my vote on the off-shore drilling alone.

Anna on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

haha. The GOP has no chance of winning VA this fall. Have you been to Virginia as of late, the state is now heavily democratic. The white bible thumping population has been heavily diluted by liberals, people of color and immigrants. The GOP’s goose is cooked

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

This was widely expected.

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:13 AM

Not according to the local news in Hampton Roads, it wasn’t – maybe other readers in other parts of the state can chime in on this, whether they widely expected it or not.

Anna on June 10, 2009 at 10:16 AM

This was widely expected.

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:13 AM

Not according to the article linked. But if you’re saying that liberal messiah is such a national disaster that it is expected Conservative candidates are starting a steamroll, I’d say Yeah, well, duh.

Marcus on June 10, 2009 at 10:17 AM

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Clearly not true.

Abby Adams on June 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM

I am so happy that McAuliffe got his ass handed to him. He is a sickening human being and represents the worst the libs have to offer.

echosyst on June 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM

The country is moving towards the left… er I mean, Congressional Donks and RINOs are…

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM

Geez, how could the good people of Virginia reject a charismatic candidate with such an amiable personality like the Punk?

there it is on June 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM

The pushback has started.

coldwarrior on June 10, 2009 at 10:19 AM

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

I wouldn’t be too sure of yourself. Democrats can’t run against George Bush forever and those “people of color” just might suprise you, ask the gay marriage advocates in California.

Theworldisnotenough on June 10, 2009 at 10:19 AM

If the electorate wants to swing back towards conservatism. Fine by me. The more the center is to conservative, less government, more freedon policies, we will all be better off.

WashJeff on June 10, 2009 at 10:19 AM

Anna on June 10, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Marcus on June 10, 2009 at 10:17 AM

Yes, it was widely expected. Deeds had been out-polling the other two by wide margins of late. It only wasn’t expected months and months ago. The writing was on the wall.

Abby Adams on June 10, 2009 at 10:19 AM

I’m confused. A conservative Democrat versus a conservative Republican?

What is anyone worried about? Either way it’s a win.

MadisonConservative on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

haha. The GOP has no chance of winning VA this fall. Have you been to Virginia as of late, the state is now heavily democratic. The white bible thumping population has been heavily diluted by liberals, people of color and immigrants. The GOP’s goose is cooked

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

And your age is what . . . 11 or 12 at the most?

rplat on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

Read the Tea Leaves…

State politician runs against a couple of the Oligarchs in Washington… and wins big.

I’ve said it time and again, the next two election cycles will be won by people who run from OUTSIDE the Beltway…

Romeo13 on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

haha. The GOP has no chance of winning VA this fall. Have you been to Virginia as of late, the state is now heavily democratic. The white bible thumping population has been heavily diluted by liberals, people of color and immigrants. The GOP’s goose is cooked

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Ha… glad you distinguish the white Bible thumpers from the black ones.

Yes, one could say the state has become so liberal that they’ve voted for the very, very liberal Deeds

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

“Afrolib” sounds a lot like the old troll “Death to Whitey!!11!!” we had here.

Fwiw.

PimFortuynsGhost on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

This was widely expected.

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:13 AM

It was? The outcome maybe but the Washington Post seems surprised and they endorsed Deeds. I figured that it would be closer than 50% to 26% for McCauliffe and 24% for Moran. I guess voters prefer a respected Virginian beats out a Clinton-era thug and a guy whose brother beats up little children.

Fact of the matter is that it was kind of an unimpressive primary. Where I live in Alexandria there were a few yard signs along the median and the whole spate of annoying commericals (especially McAuliffe’s who deserved to lose simply because of his whining ads). Nevertheless, I didn’t see any evidence of a get-out-the-vote initiative. Deeds was the most moderate of the three and certainly the best known state-wide.

highhopes on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

I’m confused. A conservative Democrat versus a conservative Republican?

What is anyone worried about? Either way it’s a win.

MadisonConservative on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

Agreed.

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM

Have you been to Virginia as of late, the state is now heavily democratic.

Do you live in VA? I live in NoVa, and let me tell you, Virginia is NOT blue. Jim Webb won his seat at least partially because of George Allen’s dumb “Macaca” moment. Mark Warner – you have to give him props – was a great governor, and Tim Kaine and Obama rode his coattails. Northern Virginia still has a lot of Republicans (like me and many of my friends). Virginia is not permanently in the blue column yet.

Yossarian on June 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM

I call the VA Governor’s race a MUST WIN for the GOP this fall. MUST WIN!

SouthernGent on June 10, 2009 at 10:12 AM

Agreed. Republican Bob McDonnell is running unopposed and has already beat Deeds in an attorney general’s race. So…may be a bit of a close race.

Keyser-Soze on June 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM

Can’t predict the GOP’s chances in Virginia, but do know if the unemployment figures, government take-overs and pro-Islamic posturing continues there will be HOPE and CHANGE for someone other than Democrats.

texabama on June 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM

people of color

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

That’s just an anagram of “colored people”, which pisses people like you off immensely. What a joke.

MadisonConservative on June 10, 2009 at 10:22 AM

echosyst on June 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM

Doesn’t he look like that Tony Goldwyn character in “Ghost.” The one who robbed Patrick Swayze’s character blind, then killed him?

If they do a bio pic on the “Sleezeman McAuliffe,” Goldwyn is a shoe in to play him.

coldwarrior on June 10, 2009 at 10:22 AM

Freedom started in Virginia.

easyone on June 10, 2009 at 10:23 AM

The husband already has his McDonnell bumper sticker in place.

Cindy Munford on June 10, 2009 at 10:23 AM

What is anyone worried about? Either way it’s a win.

MadisonConservative on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

I agree MC… Forget about the (R) or the (D) and be happy with the (C).

Keemo on June 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM

. The white bible thumping population has been heavily diluted by liberals, people of color and immigrants. The GOP’s goose is cooked

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Nice try.

What did you say last night about having simply a “difference of opinion” shouldn’t label you a troll?

Smells like troll to me.

tru2tx on June 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM

The GOP has no chance of winning VA this fall. Have you

been to Virginia as of late, the state is now heavily democratic. The white bible thumping population has been heavily diluted by liberals, people of color and immigrants. The GOP’s goose is cooked

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Utter bunk. Yes, the states demographics are changing but I think most Virginians are utterly appalled at the fiscal irresponsiblity of the filthy liar in the White House and the Democrats in Congress. The moderate vote in Virginia (most of whom supported the filthy liar) will reject the failed Obama agenda and vote in the true fiscal conservative and that isn’t the hier to Kaine and Warner- both of whom did their best to bankrupt the state through their fiscal policies.

highhopes on June 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM

Virginia is not liberal. Neither, really, is NoVa… it’s just filled with Bush Hatred amongst all the McMansion owning, starbucks drinking, Lexus SUV driving morons…. it will subside, and move back to the right.

BPD on June 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM

Distant cannon fire in the 3rd War of Independence.

Dread Pirate Roberts VI on June 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM

Abby Adams on June 10, 2009 at 10:19 AM

Interesting. I hardly ever watch my local news (no need to hear about how many people got murdered every night in my area), but I did tune in last night to see about the primary. The anchors talked about how surprising it was that Deeds came away with such a solid victory. Maybe they don’t put much stock in the polls? :)

I know I was surprised, but then again, I haven’t been paying attention. I’m trying to leave the communistwealth altogether. :)

Anna on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

I have found that you have to read the news in a different way these days. “Come-from-behind victory” means the source had no clue what was going on and got completely taken by suprise.

Johnnyreb on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

And your age is what . . . 11 or 12 at the most?

rplat on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

Don’t take this in a mean-spirited way: I don’t think afrolib is 11 or 12. It’s pretty obvious they’re a well-read DailyKos visitor.

LastRick on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

What is anyone worried about? Either way it’s a win.

MadisonConservative on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

I agree MC… Forget about the (R) or the (D) and be happy with the (C).

Keemo on June 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM

Further, tempering the Donks could be a great thing for this country. Might let the R’s know that it’s OK to be right of center.

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

I have heard that the GOP have a better than good chance to take NJ as well. It would be so great to have the GOP take over both states as a rebuttal to BO.

Voter from WA State on June 10, 2009 at 10:19 AM

PA looks promising, too. It’s an open seat, as Fast Eddy is term-limited. Tom Corbett, the GOP AG is running, I think, and the likely GOP nominee. Don’t know who the Dems would choose.

Wethal on June 10, 2009 at 10:26 AM

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Thanks for confirming how stupid liberals are…we appreciate it.

right2bright on June 10, 2009 at 10:27 AM

PA looks promising, too. It’s an open seat, as Fast Eddy is term-limited. Tom Corbett, the GOP AG is running, I think, and the likely GOP nominee. Don’t know who the Dems would choose.

Wethal on June 10, 2009 at 10:26 AM

And we’ve also heard Rudy has a real shot in NY

Anything but Paterson!!!

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:27 AM

The anchors talked about how surprising it was that Deeds came away with such a solid victory. Maybe they don’t put much stock in the polls? :)

Anna on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

No, the polls predicted an easy Deeds victory. Check out the pollster.com from Monday, a day before the primary.

LastRick on June 10, 2009 at 10:28 AM

Further, tempering the Donks could be a great thing for this country. Might let the R’s know that it’s OK to be right of center.

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

The R’s have to come to that conclusion on their own. If they can’t, efforts may have to be made to combine the remaining conservatives in both parties.

MadisonConservative on June 10, 2009 at 10:28 AM

Democrats recruiting small town politicians to win races. Looks like they learned something from the performance and appeal of a certain hilly billy from Alaska while the GOP is busy recruiting bluebloods and chasing “upscale” voters.

promachus on June 10, 2009 at 10:29 AM

Abby Adams on June 10, 2009 at 10:19 AM

Agreed. This wasn’t a “stunner” if recent polling was any indication. Within the past week or so Deeds was clearly the frontrunner. Granted, beating McAuliffe seemed impossible a couple months ago, but all indications recently here in VA was that Deeds would win.

Frankly, this is bad news for the GOP and I’m not confident they can retake the governor’s mansion. McDonnell isn’t popular amongst some portions of the base, and Deeds WILL take votes from him, especially in the rural parts of the state.

changer1701 on June 10, 2009 at 10:29 AM

I have found that you have to read the news in a different way these days. “Come-from-behind victory” means the source had no clue what was going on and got completely taken by suprise.

Johnnyreb on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

I.e., the source was an insider and/or strategist.

WashJeff on June 10, 2009 at 10:29 AM

The lies and deception of the left is wearing thin quickly. When obvious lying thieves like McAullife and Moran are beaten like this, maybe there is some hope after all.In the next election, the king will go back to just being a president.

volsense on June 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM

Democrats recruiting small town politicians to win races. Looks like they learned something from the performance and appeal of a certain hilly billy from Alaska while the GOP is busy recruiting bluebloods and chasing “upscale” voters.

promachus on June 10, 2009 at 10:29 AM

Pft, pft…

If Palin had even set foot on the lower 48, Deeds would have lost…

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM

In the 2005 Virginia’s Attorney General election, Bob McDonnell beat Creigh Deeds by only 323 votes. It’s going to be a very interesting race here in Virginia.

The Democratic attack machine has been pounding away at Bob McDonnell in the past few months. The Democratic Governors Association funded PAC, Common Sense Virginia, has raised over $2 million and has been relentlessly attacking McDonnell for months — bombarding the airwaves with attack ads over his stance on unemployment benefits.

Christina_M on June 10, 2009 at 10:31 AM

I guess there will be two new Czars for Obama…

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:32 AM

I’ll not forget the role that the WaPo had in boosting Kaine over the top in the last election. Look for the MSM to go all out to promote Deeds over McDonnell.

McAuliffe would have been much easier to defeat.

ksm on June 10, 2009 at 10:33 AM

LastRick on June 10, 2009 at 10:28 AM

That’s what I’m saying – the polls showed Deeds doing well, and yet the anchors acted shocked. The polls obviously did not match their expectations.

I’m admitting I paid no attention to either polls or news lately about the Dems, as my candidate has already been chosen and I’m hoping to move before then anyway.

Anna on June 10, 2009 at 10:34 AM

As in 1993, the Virginia and New Jersey races for governor will be as much about how the national Democratic Party is doing — since as in ‘93, they control both the White House and Congress — as it is about the local candidates. And November ‘93 wasn’t a really great month for Democrats.

jon1979 on June 10, 2009 at 10:34 AM

It’s a win for everyone, as far as I’m concerned. A McAuliffe win would only have been excellent news for the Virginia’s Republican and Green Parties. But the Republicans shouldn’t get too excited about Deeds’s much vaunted conservatism. I don’t think he is to the right of Warner or Kaine.

The biggest losers here are Brian Schweitzer, who took a hit to his nearly flawless record by endorsing a Washington DC hack who couldn’t even win; and Bill Clinton, who also travelled to Virginia to stump for McAuliffe and couldn’t close the deal. I hope McAuliffe’s money was worth the stain on their reputations.

Siobhan on June 10, 2009 at 10:35 AM


Distant cannon fire in the 3rd War of Independence.

Dread Pirate Roberts VI on June 10, 2009 at 10:24 AM

God, I love that comment….. I really love it!

HomeoftheBrave on June 10, 2009 at 10:37 AM

We can’t hold afrolib responsible for his/her ignorant position. The WHITE liberal democrats that run the education system have successfuly kept him/her ignorant. The WHITE liberal democrat media has been complicit in this operation as well. The goal of keeping him/her on the plantation(read:relying on white liberal democrats) has been succesfully executed. He/she chan’t help but have an ignorant view of the world and politics.

Must suck to be you. A victim from birth to death, and the only prospects in life are handouts from WHITE liberal democrats and the fleeting prospect of retribution for make-believe wrong-doings.

daesleeper on June 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Ah the PUNK got PUNKED!! Sweet!

glennbo on June 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Christina_M on June 10, 2009 at 10:31 AM

I just hope they get another attack ad than that unemployed crybaby who thinks the state owes him a bigger welfare check and is against McDonnell because he showed fiscal conservatism. Nothing annoys me more than the entitlement attitude of that man and the ugly woman who comes on at the very end. I want to know who is really funding those ads because they clearly have very deep pockets for a supposedly grass-roots organization.

Conversely, I think McDonnell’s people need to ditch the ad showing the happy family and start challenging Deeds on the issues.

highhopes on June 10, 2009 at 10:43 AM

Just a thought. I hear people refer to Mr. Deeds as “Creigh” and pronounce it “Cree”. His real name appears to be Creighton. Is that pronounced “Cretin”?

Buford Gooch on June 10, 2009 at 10:43 AM

As a Virginian, I’m just glad we spared the possibility of a carpetbagging party hack becoming governor here. I despise McAuliffe.

flipflop on June 10, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Thank God there’s only one Moran for Virginians to contend with. For a relative conservative like Deeds to win uber-bourgeois-liberal Arlington County (where I live) is no small feat.

This sends the first message to Washington. People don’t just want words; they want… DEEDS.

Cute, huh?

manwithblackhat on June 10, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Mt Dear Republican Party… take a lesson… MOVE TO THE RIGHT.

mankai on June 10, 2009 at 10:45 AM

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

You’re not nice343/money2, are you? Even if you aren’t, you certainly share his viewpoints and writing style. Go post on HuffPo.

kingsjester on June 10, 2009 at 10:46 AM

ksm on June 10, 2009 at 10:33 AM

Well, DUH!

Abby Adams on June 10, 2009 at 10:47 AM

If you want to know why Moran lost, I’m thinking this idiotic letter from his brother, telling residents of Arlington that allowing terrorists like Khalid Sheik Mohammed to be tried in Alexandria’s courthouse was the patriotic thing to do, may have had something to do with it.

Buy Danish on June 10, 2009 at 10:48 AM

“Afrolib” sounds a lot like the old troll “Death to Whitey!!11!!” we had here.

Fwiw.

PimFortuynsGhost on June 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

I was thinking DeathToMediaHacks myself.

LastRick on June 10, 2009 at 10:49 AM

Make that – residents of [Alexandria] (not Arlington)

Buy Danish on June 10, 2009 at 10:50 AM

I’m taking this as a good sign that people are waking up to the dangers of progressivism/liberalism/tyranny. The trouncing of McAuliff is a good indicator, methinks. I agree that VA is still up for grabs – not irreversibly blue by any means.

4Freedom on June 10, 2009 at 10:51 AM

…despite a pro-gun stance and relatively conservative positions that are out of line with many of the area’s voters self-obsessed media ….

There…fixed that.

connertown on June 10, 2009 at 10:51 AM

Pft, pft…

If Palin had even set foot on the lower 48, Deeds would have lost…

Upstater85 on June 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM

Ummm….have you been paying attention to the news? Palin was in the “lower 48″, as in New York and DC, for several days this past week. I believe she went to a Yankee’s game and she was at the dinner Newt spoke at on Monday night.

ElvenPhoenix on June 10, 2009 at 10:52 AM

I think all these car dealerships being taken away that have been in families for generations didn’t help McAuliffe and the Democrats’ cause either.

kingsjester on June 10, 2009 at 10:53 AM

There is no such thing as a Conservative Dem.If a person is a true conservative he or she can not be a member of the Dem party.

thmcbb on June 10, 2009 at 10:53 AM

Of course the WaPo is shocked and surprised that a man whose views are “out of step” with “many” of the citizens could win!

Not many enough, dude.

Yes, pushback has begun.

PattyJ on June 10, 2009 at 10:54 AM

If the race is close,McDonnell is toast.Dems always find a way to steal close elections,ALWAYS!The only time they didn’t get away with it was Florida in 2000-and they are still seething over it.By hook or by ACORN,they will recount until they get ahead then declare victory.

pistolpetestoys on June 10, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Northern Virginia still has a lot of Republicans (like me and many of my friends). Virginia is not permanently in the blue column yet.

Yossarian on June 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM

And me :)

It’s a good sign that at least the conservative democrat won even in NOVA, although he will be a lot harder to beat I think also. People here seem to like to play up their Dem creds so if they can get away with voting more conservatively, but still saying they’re on the side of their darling BO they will probably jump at the chance.

hollygolightly on June 10, 2009 at 10:57 AM

I despise McAuliffe.

flipflop on June 10, 2009 at 10:44 AM

As apparently did 75% of the 10% of Democrats that bothered voting yesterday.

highhopes on June 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM

Terry McAuliffe, didn’t you used to be somebody?

JohnGalt23 on June 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM

here is my initial take on the va. gubernatorial race:

1: McDonnell has on his ticket an AG candidate that is supported by the rabid “religious right” (i say this with no offense intended). these people will GOTV.

2: creigh deeds will get some crossover vote. however, he won’t get the wild liberal vote. nor will he be able to access the Obama “list”. even our part-time governor/DNC chair Tim Kaine can’t get the obama “list”.

its still a dead heat 4 years later.

kelley in virginia on June 10, 2009 at 11:01 AM

LastRick on June 10, 2009 at 10:49 AM

Same person. “Death to Whitey!!11!!” is my moniker for DTMH, for obvious reasons. Treacher calls it “Death to Capitalist Pigs!”

PimFortuynsGhost on June 10, 2009 at 11:01 AM

Virginia has a long history of electing governors from the opposite party of the President. The notion that it is a Republican state that has recently gone purple or blue is wrong. There were Democratic governors in Virginia under Reagan and Bush I. They were fairly conservative too.

This primary was an excellent snapshot at the true state of politics in Virginia. Brian Moran tried to completely wrap himself in the Barack Obama flag, and he lost miserably. Terry McAuliffe had Bill Clinton practically acting as his running mate, and he lost miserably. Creigh Deeds focused on talking about what Virginians actually want and need, and he won. All politics is local.

McDonnell will win the general election.

rockmom on June 10, 2009 at 11:02 AM

also, alot of Republicans voted in yesterday’s primary because they’ve learned the hard way that if a Dem is going to win the election they prefer it to be a Dem they can live with.

many afro americans in my area didn’t know there was a primary. and once they found out that obama wasn’t running again, they didn’t bother voting.

kelley in virginia on June 10, 2009 at 11:03 AM

all you virginians need to access some of the virginia blogs. i start with tooconservative.com.

my first blog hit of the a.m. is always hotair though.

kelley in virginia on June 10, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Terry McAuliffe, didn’t you used to be somebody?

JohnGalt23 on June 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM

Yeah, ‘The Punk’

daesleeper on June 10, 2009 at 11:06 AM

Deeds beat Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe in every region of the state, including vote-rich Northern Virginia, despite a pro-gun stance and relatively conservative positions that are out of line with many of the area’s voters.

When does programing exec become an elected position?

Speakup on June 10, 2009 at 11:08 AM

. The white bible thumping population has been heavily diluted by liberals, people of color and immigrants. The GOP’s goose is cooked

Afrolib on June 10, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Open registration. Gotta love hate it.

portlandon on June 10, 2009 at 11:08 AM

all you virginians need to access some of the virginia blogs. i start with tooconservative.com.

my first blog hit of the a.m. is always hotair though.

kelley in virginia on June 10, 2009 at 11:05 AM

What are some other ones?

changer1701 on June 10, 2009 at 11:09 AM

Kos is already playing the elitist card, making fun of the fact that McDonnell went to Pat Robertson’s law school. Someone should tell them that their messiah frowns on this kind of religious hatred.

Speedwagon82 on June 10, 2009 at 11:09 AM

Deeds only difference is he is pro gun to a point.

beyond that, he is about the same as the rest. ‘Green Jobs’ and all that.

DaveC on June 10, 2009 at 11:10 AM

Deeds was easier to spell out on the palm of the hand of the typical Democrat voter so they would know who to vote for.

DaveC on June 10, 2009 at 11:13 AM

Afrolib is just a bottom feeder, stealing other people’s money. Bringing havoc to every area they move, like locusts. Moving on from Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Oakland. Still voting the same thugs in to ruin the newest place to burn down…hopefully, Virginians can fight back.

OBAMA: the LAST black president evah!

luvstotango on June 10, 2009 at 11:15 AM

It’s pretty obvious they’re a well-read DailyKos visitor.

LastRick on June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM

Well-read and Daily Kos = an oxymoron

either orr on June 10, 2009 at 11:16 AM

The more electable candidate beat two more solidly liberal Democrats. And as a result, has a reasonable shot of winning.

See people, this is how it’s done.

YYZ on June 10, 2009 at 11:17 AM

The good news for Republican Bob McDonnell: Deeds did so with 9,308 votes. When Tim Kaine won that county in 2005’s general election, he did so with 42,319 votes.

How many votes did Kaine get in the 2005 primary?

YYZ on June 10, 2009 at 11:19 AM

PA looks promising, too. It’s an open seat, as Fast Eddy is term-limited. Tom Corbett, the GOP AG is running, I think, and the likely GOP nominee. Don’t know who the Dems would choose.

Wethal on June 10, 2009 at 10:26 AM

PA doesn’t go until 2010… sad to say. But Corbett is a potential winner — he was re-elected AG in 2008, which was a nightmare for most GOPers in Pa. for sure.
And PA has a history of switching parties when guvs serve their two terms. Every governor since the state constitution changed to allow two terms has been re-elected… but when the time’s up, each time the other party won the job… Shapp (D), Thornburgh (R), the real Bob Casey, not the idiot now in the Senate (D), Ridge (R), Rendell (D),…

either orr on June 10, 2009 at 11:20 AM

luvstotango on June 10, 2009 at 11:15 AM

Dude, I think your hood is showing. Stop with the race (racist) cracks.

Abby Adams on June 10, 2009 at 11:21 AM

So glad Deeds creamed Terry “McAwful” and Moran. Looking forward to the general election and am pulling for McDonnell. Also looking forward to 2012 when Webb is due for retribution. Webb and Warner have disappointed . . . only rubber-stamp Obama’s agenda. Webb’s wake-up call on Gitmo detainee relocations, however, was a trifle refreshing but almost every congressman went NIMBY on that. We in Stafford have a good ‘rep’ in Wittman.

Bob in VA on June 10, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Just knowing it WILL NOT be McAuliffe has made my day. Whenever I hear his name, all I can think of are the Clintons. Looking forward to voting for McDonnell.

behiker on June 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM

A coupla things:
The good news for Republican Bob McDonnell: Deeds did so with 9,308 votes. When Tim Kaine won that county in 2005’s general election, he did so with 42,319 votes.

While true, this statement is stupid and disingenuous. Turnout in primaries is much lower than for the general election. Comparing apples and oranges to a degree.

The good part:
Many non-democrats targeted McAuliffe and went to the polls to vote for Deeds and Moran. Anybody but Terry. Virginia is an open primary state and any registered voter can vote in the Democrat primary. The three way race made it difficult to monkey wrench McA and it appears that most voters decided to vote for Deeds as more moderate/conservative if Deeds were to go on to be governor.

The final issue:
McDonnell barely beat out Deeds for Attorney General in the last general election. Deeds is of the old “southern Democrat” mold of conservative Democrats and is from a very rural area of the Commonwealth. He will be a formidable opponent to McDonnell. Many conservatives were trying to get Moran elected feeling he was weakest against McD. The downside to that strategy is that Moran is much further left than Deeds. Are we better off with Obama than we would have been with Hillary? No way to know, but I have my doubts, despite how much I despise that woman.

Hope and change:
I hope that whomever is elected our next Governor, he will:
1) try to be a governor for the people of VA, and not be just a political ladder climber.
2) he won’t be a partisan hack like Timmy Kaine, who thinks it’s ok to be a part-time Governor and a “part-time” Chairman of the DNC.

I am not affiliated with any political party and vote the issues as I see them. I will investigate both McDonnell and Deeds and vote for the one I think is best for the Commonwealth. At least we pushed the biggest party hack out of the race.

riverrat10k on June 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM

Abby, you’re right. Let’s laugh about the Palins being screwed by A-Rod, on the Letterman show.

The thought police are the same as the Taliban. Go slither back under your rock you moron.

luvstotango on June 10, 2009 at 11:32 AM

Whatever happens in my home state this fall, at least I won’t be faced with the prospect of Governor McAuliffe. That very thought made my skin crawl.

Physics Geek on June 10, 2009 at 11:33 AM

Comment pages: 1 2


You must be logged in to post a comment.