Open thread: Virginia; Update: McDonnell wins
posted at 7:42 pm on November 3, 2009 by Allahpundit
A weird situation: It’s the biggest bellwether of the night given that it was the crown jewel in The One’s swing-state sweep last year, and yet … the result’s been a foregone conclusion for weeks. The only question is how big of a blowout it’ll be. Double digits seems assured, but dare we hope for 15 points, say?
You can follow the results here. With 12 percent of the votes in, McDonnell leads by 27; we should get a call before 8 p.m. ET, I’d think. One interesting footnote to this race in case you haven’t followed it is that Deeds did his level best to paint the Republican as a hard-right culture warrior while McDonnell, wisely, ran on jobs. Just one more bit of evidence that fiscal conservatism, not social conservatism, is the GOP’s path going forward.
Update: Three minutes before 8 p.m. and the AP says lights out. Now we wait for the final margin.
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: « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next »
8:) This is awesome.
milwife88 on November 3, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Hell yeah!!! Huge landslide, and a sweep in all the statewide races.
I’m breakin’ out the Crown and toasting VA, right now.
Taking back America. One state at a time.
Let’s roll!
TXUS on November 3, 2009 at 8:17 PM
OH NO! Deeds is ahead almost two to one in Surry county.
Oldnuke on November 3, 2009 at 8:17 PM
JERSEY, WHERE YOU AT?
NY23 WHERE YOU AT?
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
If it’s like CA’s election on taxes, believe me, the angry mob is voting.
Those tax proposals presented by the Dems were shot down with 60%. And the Dems didn’t vote. They had no heart for it.
AnninCA on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
I see you are raisning your daughters RIGHT!!!!
lovingmyUSA on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
DAMN, that’s a sizeable margin, too. Hopefully this is the first of many victories. Just don’t squander your chance Mr. Mcdonnell, and congrats btw. Time to crack open a Miller. Cheers, mates!
SG1_Conservative on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
I’m sure the NoVa and Richmond precincts are among the last to report, so Deeds will make up some ground.
changer1701 on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Does anyone think the GOP blowout in VA will affect how Webb and Warner vote in the Senate?
Mark1971 on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Oldnuke on November 3, 2009 at 8:17 PM
HELL, MAKE IT 4 TO 1, HE CAN BE GOVERNOR OF SURRY COUNTY.
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
LOL ROTFLOL
BYOB
Ampersand on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
w00t! R straight across the board in Va, i knew my state wasn’t totally braindead.
trailortrash on November 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
I don’t expect a 20pt margin. I am thinking 11-15pts. The win is sweet no matter the margin, and the kicker is taking the top 3 spots.
ICBM on November 3, 2009 at 8:19 PM
OK guys. Tell me about a good drink to have tonight.
Just one word of caution: I’m usually a non-booze drinker.
newton on November 3, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Yeah, only 20% of the precincts are in. It’s still early.
AnninCA on November 3, 2009 at 8:19 PM
NJ has to wait for the NYC media to get right the spin for the story, however it turns out. If the Pub wins, it’s racist. If the Dem wins by 1%, major victory for Obama. If more than 1%, a landslide!
Liam on November 3, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Yes. These two (Webb more so that Warner) know they’re on a tightrope. They were 2 of the 13 that voted down the “docfix” bill and handed Reid his a$$ last week. I really think they are listening to reality.
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Loudon county still not in…NoVA makes me nervous…I don’t care if the race has been called or not.
SouthernGent on November 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Polls closed in NJ. Too early to call. – Fox
newton on November 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM
THIS IS A WARM UP FOR 2010. STAY VIGILANT PEOPLE.
Geochelone on November 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Breaking from TCOT:
Enoxo on November 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Sea breeze? *haha
I think there’s gonna be a waft of air tomorrow.
AnninCA on November 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Millions of people have been waiting for literally one year to have their voices heard. We are all Virginians tonight.
sherry on November 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Another stolen election by the rethuglicans.
Bishop on November 3, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Bishop: Hehe,(Republican Acorn Thugs),RAT!!:)
(kidding)
canopfor on November 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Don’t fret. Just don’t fret.
newton on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Only Virginians will be able to find it on a map :-)
Oldnuke on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
The folks over at CNN and the White House are having Ed’s favorite drink called the “Joe Biden”
2 parts furniture polish
1 part paint thinner
1 cigarette….
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Christie, Chris GOP 8,519 62%
Corzine, Jon (i) Dem 4,019 29
William Amos on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
And adding to the blowout, hundreds of Liberty University students who got to vote thanks to the work of the ACLU and the Obama campaign last year. Classes were cancelled, and most of the school’s buses were taking students to the polls.
missykat16 on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Yuck!
newton on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
“With all this manure,” replies the boy enthusiastically digging away, “there’s got to be a RINO in here somewhere!”
Terry_Dyne on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Excellent! This is so exciting! All we had on the ballot today in Texas was Constitutional amendments, but I wanted to vote just to feel connected to VA, NJ & NY folks standing up for this country!
txmomof6 on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Come on, Jersey and NY-23!
dogsoldier on November 3, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Find a VA wine or beer.
stackedeck on November 3, 2009 at 8:22 PM
… and a dash of nitroglycerin… for the explosive effect.
newton on November 3, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Vote on what? Health care? Doubt it.
terryannonline on November 3, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Arnold found his backbone after our election. The percentage NO to more taxes, in spite of threats of school closures, you name it, was over 60%.
There was no doubt about the message sent.
AnninCA on November 3, 2009 at 8:22 PM
McDonnell at 75% in Washington County (where I went to college).
Can you believe those same voters send Rick Boo-Shay to Congress?
fiatboomer on November 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM
I’m waiting on NJ to open the beer.
If we get NY AND NJ then I may even get a non-lite beer
Ampersand on November 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Yea. That drink is called the “Double Aneurysm”.
Geochelone on November 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM
William do you have a link?
Thanks
Brat4life on November 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM
And so it starts–better check the trunks of the cars–right now!
lovingmyUSA on November 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Where to find a VA wine? I live in TX.
newton on November 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM
WOW Where did you find that?
dogsoldier on November 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Warner would be more likely to vote for healthcare than Webb. These guys actually listen halfway.
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Can I just say, after suffering four years of that idiot Kaine as Gov., I’m ecstatic that his legacy is Republicans winning all three major VA executive offices. By OVERWHELMING numbers.
Vyce on November 3, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Welcome home, Virginia. Good to have you back.
TXUS on November 3, 2009 at 8:24 PM
PMSNBC.
But I’m sure the Dem districts aren’t reporting yet.
fiatboomer on November 3, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Looks like better than 20% win for McDonnell, with over 5% of precincts in.
hawksruleva on November 3, 2009 at 8:25 PM
and we are all NY23-ians (?) as well.
Now jersey, on the other hand… welll, you get it…
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Allah has a thread on NJ.
Geochelone on November 3, 2009 at 8:25 PM
It’s on Drudge
gophergirl on November 3, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Bill O’Reilly said he saw the exit polling in New Jersey….and all but declared Christie the winner. Obviously, the exit polls are good for Christie.
terryannonline on November 3, 2009 at 8:26 PM
It’s good to see a lot of Virginians here. While I no longer reside there it’s where I was born and raised. Congrats VA!
Ampersand on November 3, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Online, though I’m not sure what the rules are for shipping. Try http://www.chateaumorrisette.com/
hawksruleva on November 3, 2009 at 8:26 PM
McDonnell has a mandate. I want him to post signs on every fricking highway, road, trail, path, rabbit trail coming out of DC that says
“WELCOME TO THE SOVEREIGN COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA WHERE WE BELIEVE IN THE 1ST AND THE 2ND AMENDMENTS (AND AREN’T AFRAID TO USE THEM)”
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Its on FNC now too
dogsoldier on November 3, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Interesting take, Allah. Why are you dismissing other possibilities, like social conservatism as well as fiscal conservatism being on the upswing? Too scary for ya?
disa on November 3, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Christie, Chris GOP 11,652 54%
Corzine, Jon (i) Dem 7,930 36%
Daggett, Christopher Ind 1,894 9%
Republican on November 3, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Fox is scrolling NJ now.
BobMbx on November 3, 2009 at 8:27 PM
I’m just glad to see a Northern Virginian standing up for conservatism. I hope McDonnell will clue some latte-drinkers in.
Well, a small percentage of ‘em, anyway.
fiatboomer on November 3, 2009 at 8:28 PM
I “misremembered”: Jim Gilmore (Gov), John H. Hager (LtGov) and Mark Earley (AG), all Republicans, were elected in 1997.
ya2daup on November 3, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Hey, kids, join us in the Joisey thread.
Terrie on November 3, 2009 at 8:29 PM
wish I could get some Legends here in CA
Ampersand on November 3, 2009 at 8:29 PM
[ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:27 PM]
Nice.
Dusty on November 3, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Hell yes. I’ve never voted with more pleasure. I wish I could have written the NO NO NO NO NO in big red marker. Aaaagh, if only I could get at Babs and DiFi and Arnold today, to say nothing of our worthless state reps… Virginia, you’re so lucky…
evergreen on November 3, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Proud to be a Virginian tonight. Fluvanna county, where I live, just south of the liberal oasis of Charlottesville went 63% to 36% for McDonnell! My wife and I have been excited about voting tonight since January.
Cheers!
stefanite on November 3, 2009 at 8:31 PM
ditto brother! I’m in Cville and gladly pushed the button for Bob and the Crew this morning with mom and the kids.
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Meh, just winning in the fairly blue VA is reason enough for a Miller, but then I’ve never needed that much of a reason :)
SG1_Conservative on November 3, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Wrong.
Let’s look at the facts – Deeds beat him furiously about the head and face with his conservative bona fides – including his social views – and it did NOT sink his candidacy. To draw your silly conclusion, Deeds argument would have had to work. Social conservatism (to Allah’s dismay) did not sink the duck.
In fact, a so-con/fi-con wins! Whoohooo! (Always good to get out both sides of the base. This makes sense to almost everyone except the leadership of the GOP.)
Carolina Kat on November 3, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Corzine down to 43 on InTrade… from a high of 85 a few hours ago.
TXUS on November 3, 2009 at 8:35 PM
I want to believe those NJ numbers will hold, but that Christie lead is only with like 1% of the votes counted.
I want so badly for Repubs to win all three races. For petty reasons – because I know a guy (a liberal, of course) who claimed, after 08, that the GOP was now doomed to be nothing but a “regional party”. This would be the perfect retort to that, albeit a year coming.
Vyce on November 3, 2009 at 8:35 PM
Thank you. It felt good! Toasting in Richmond too! Took all four kids with me so they would understand the importance of voting. Had a good long chat with the oldest about our Founding Fathers and their intent for our country. It was a good day!
truetexan on November 3, 2009 at 8:37 PM
To watch election results google the state in question election 2009.
Jerricho68 on November 3, 2009 at 8:37 PM
50 41 Christie with 2% reporting.
Jerricho68 on November 3, 2009 at 8:39 PM
I know I’m not drunk, but I’m seeing that McDonnell is currently carrying 85% of the vote with 65% in??? Do I need glasses, is this right? What are y’all seeing?
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Right now the State Board of Elections site for Virginia has a MAJOR ERROR. IT’s reporting over 2,000,000 votes for McDonnell in Loudon Co. That’d be half the voters in Virgina.
hawksruleva on November 3, 2009 at 8:42 PM
I thought that was a bogus report. thanks hawks.
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:42 PM
why doesn’t MSNBC have a ticker with results? HMmmmmmm
stackedeck on November 3, 2009 at 8:43 PM
OK, I finally got my beer (I spilled part of it in my kitchen :( ) *Raises bottle* Here’s to you VA!
SG1_Conservative on November 3, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Indeed.
Blacksmith8 on November 3, 2009 at 8:43 PM
I have not heard them listening. I get back form letters thanking me for my concern or views and then they go on to talk about how they will do the exact opposite.
AnotherOpinion on November 3, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Just refreshed the VA results:
Deeds 465,717 (14%)
McDonnell 2,757,057 (86%)
Somebody at ACORN ran to the wrong end zone!
Should I get a print screen?
Dusty on November 3, 2009 at 8:43 PM
any NY reports yet?
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:44 PM
It’s fixed now, they were just off by a power of ten or two :-)
Oldnuke on November 3, 2009 at 8:44 PM
It’s good for a LOL though!
fiatboomer on November 3, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Weird numbers in Loudin County.
Precincts Reporting:
19 of 71 (26.76%)
Voter Turnout:
2,068,075 of 172,868 active voters (1196.%)
2,068,075 of 179,958 total voters (1149.%)
Theworldisnotenough on November 3, 2009 at 8:44 PM
they thought McDonnell spel’t McDemocrat!
heheheh
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Polls close at 9PM, Ted.
Dusty on November 3, 2009 at 8:45 PM
And your county has been heard from……. 2 million votes?
Think mabe someone had some wobbly pops BEFORE they punched the numbers in?
LOL
Jim708 on November 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM
hell, if it’d been the other way for Deeds, then we would’ve had a sudden break in the coverage for The Won’s victory speech and an extrication from the bus chassis.
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Stoooopid cheating rethuglicans!
BPD on November 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Maybe someone entered a wrong number somewhere. 1100%+ voter turn out is highly irregular.
Theworldisnotenough on November 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM
I haven’t been this happy in a year and so proud of my state and all of Virginia!
God Bless the Old Dominion!
IntheNet on November 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM
PPP tweet about Virginia…
Pooookie! Noooooooooooooooo!
SouthernGent on November 3, 2009 at 8:47 PM
that is, unless, those voters were previously “disenfranchised…”
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:47 PM
that still leaves 5 of 6 pookies back on the couch.
ted c on November 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM
A great big BS to that!
Wow, AP, you are beating that social-con-is-a-loser horse to death tonight. Personally, I don’t see how you twist McDonnell’s win as a sign that fiscal conservatism is the big winner to the exclusion of social conservatism. While I’ve no doubt many people are more focused on fiscal issues right now, I think this only shows that being a social con isn’t nearly the detrimental thing the libertines in our ‘big tent’ like to make it out to be. I haven’t seen many ads, but I have seen the accusations that McDonnell is a radical social con and know about that thesis of his where he even criticized women in the workplace. That should have been the kiss of death if you’re theory is right.
From a report on a Clarus Poll a couple weeks ago:
• Despite heavy Democratic attacks on McDonnell’s views on the role of women in society, McDonnell now edges Deeds among women by one point, 45-44 percent. McDonnell posts a sizable 14-point lead among men
McDonnell might have focused his own ads on fiscal policy, but he didn’t need to advertise his social conservatism, since Deeds was doing that for him. From what I can tell, he IS a strong social con, and it sure didn’t stop people from voting for him.
So, I’ll grant that fiscal issues may be at the forefront, but I’d say this is proof we conservatives who adhere to all three legs of the conservative stool can have it all. Awesome!
It sure doesn’t support the fiscal con/social libertines’ position that we need to abandon social conservatism.
Cheers, Virginia!
pannw on November 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next »