June 9, 2009 8:29 PM

Deeds Wins Va. Governor Democratic Primary

By
Steve Chaggaris
Topics
Governors
(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
State senator Creigh Deeds became the Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia Tuesday night after upsetting the well-funded former Clinton campaign official, Terry McAuliffe, and former state representative Brian Moran, brother of U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va.

With 70 percent of the votes counted, Deeds had 50 percent to McAuliffe's 26 percent and Moran's 24 percent.

Turnout is expected to be a paltry 5 or 6 percent, so it would be a stretch to talk about large-scale implications as a result of this primary.

But Deeds' victory does indicate that Virginians weren't sold on McAuliffe, who the Los Angeles Times described today as "a force of nature" and was considered the frontrunner until about a week ago as polls started showing a Deeds surge.

McAuliffe dominated media coverage and the TV ad wars. He raised $7 million (about as much as Deeds and Moran combined) campaigned with close friend Bill Clinton, and had a nationally experienced campaign staff. However, his well-oiled machine and his position as an "outsider" were turned against him.

Of that $7 million, nearly 70 percent of that was from out-of-state, an issue used by his opponents who argued his non-Virginian donors would have too much influence.

Deeds, meantime, was the only Democrat not from the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., making him attractive to voters in other well-populated parts of the state such as Richmond, Roanoke and Norfolk.

Even though he isn't a Northern Virginia native, Deeds still had strong showings in the heavily populated Fairfax County (he was way ahead of McAuliffe - who was running third - with 36 percent of the vote counted in McAuliffe's home base) and Alexandria City (a respectable 32 percent to Moran's 55 percent in Moran's home base).

Deeds focused on his overall moderate views - receiving late criticism from his opponents for his pro-gun votes - and argued that he would be a better match for the Republican nominee, former state attorney general Bob McDonnell. He was the first one to jump into the race last year, is a tireless campaigner, and received the endorsement of the Washington Post.

Deeds faces the conservative McDonnell, who didn't run in a primary but was nominated on May 30 at the state GOP convention. The Democrat will have to play catch-up in the fund-raising game as McDonnell is sitting on around $5 million. As of June 1, Deeds had just over $500,000 on hand and a good chunk of that was most likely spent in the run-up to today's primary, especially countering McAuliffe's heavy TV ad buy in the expensive Washington, D.C. market.

Interestingly, the Deeds-McDonnell matchup is a grudge match. McDonnell defeated Deeds in 2005 for state attorney general by 323 votes.

The Democrats are looking to make it three-wins-in-a-row in Virginia gubernatorial races following now-Sen. Mark Warner's victory in 2001 and Gov. Tim Kaine's in 2005.

Virginia has trended Democratic in recent elections - Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., narrowly defeated incumbent Sen. George Allen, R-Va., in 2006; Warner replaced the retiring Sen. John Warner, R-Va., last year and Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Virginia since LBJ won in 1964.

Republicans are trying to stem that trend, which is reflective of their problems nationwide. McDonnell, as one of two Republicans running in statewide races this year (Chris Christie in the New Jersey governors race is the other) bears a heavy burden: a win will be touted by his party as a fortune-changing event; a loss, especially if he and Christie lose, potentially brings another year of soul-searching for the GOP.

Add a Comment
by jackp32 June 10, 2009 9:16 AM EDT
Well done Virginia for rejecting Terry McAuliffe. As the voters knew, he sold his stock in Global Crossing a few days before the busuness collapsed. His investment of $100,000 was turned into a windfall of $18M. Was there ever an investigation into insider trading? I never heard of one, since the Clinton's probably jumped in and covered for him. I hope this voter rejection washes up his aspiring political career.
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by american_11-2009 June 10, 2009 8:12 AM EDT
It is way past time to elect Politicians that have the best interest of American citizens & the future of this Nation. Most politicians have only self interest and in fact support the invasion of Criminals and uneducated peons from Mexico and South American over American citizens!

Our government fails the most basic and primary task & duty of government, to protect this Nation and its Citizens from invasion and enforce its laws.

They refuse to abide by our Constitution, refuse to enforce our Immigration Laws and refuse to honor their Oath of Office!

Our Government, past & present, Republican & Democrat, have allowed the invasion of 20 to 30 million criminals and uneducated peons which is the largest invasion of any Nation, at any time, by any means & in direct violation of Article IV, Section IV of our Constitution.

This refusal to abide by our Constitution or enforce our Immigration Laws should be classified as Treason of the most foul kind, & as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason!

Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions on Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders numerous children, and free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws and massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens at an rate the terrorist can only dream about.

Recent statements in Mexico from both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary something needs to be done. "Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers, and civilians," she said.

But no mention, concern or care that their refusal to stop the Massive Invasion of Illegal Aliens pouring across our borders or enforce our immigration laws that causes an estimated 25 Americans deaths per day and 10,s of thousands victims of Assault, Robberies, Rapes, Identify thief, and other assorted crimes committed by the invading horde of Illegal Aliens from Mexico on American citizens each year!

It is a telling indictment & shows their Empathy & Compassion of our Politicians & their priorities when they express 100,s of time more concern over three Terrorist being water broader than the havoc & crimes of Illegal Aliens against American Citizens!

Most of our Politicians in Wash. DC are wading knee deep in innocent American blood and suffering because they put Self Interest ahead of the interest of American Citizens & the future of this Nation!

The Welfare vote for the Democrats to further their Socialist Agenda and the Slave Labor for their Pay Masters in the Chamber of Commerce & Business for the Republicans is more important to our Corrupt power mad Politicians than the lives and safety of Americans citizens!

The Citizens of this Nation have not sacrificed with blood, sweat & tears for over 200 years & obeyed the Laws of the land, paid the taxes, and fought the wars & built this Nation to see Corrupt politicians turn this Nation into the United States of Mexico without a shot being fired, to serve their demented, nefarious goals and lust for power!
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by didserve June 10, 2009 8:12 AM EDT
Opps

People got in the way of Party Plans!

Well Done Virginia!
Reply to this comment
by didserve June 10, 2009 8:12 AM EDT
Opps

People got in the way of Party Plans!

Well Done Virginia!
Reply to this comment
by mav547166 June 10, 2009 7:39 AM EDT
Yeah that whole move from Arkansas to New York to get elected scheme doesnt work in Virginia, they have to home grow their liberals.
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by platteman June 10, 2009 6:29 AM EDT
Terry McAuliffe is a carpet-bagger. He didn't care about VA, he just wanted the national attention and he raised money from people outside VA. Now he should go back to his "home" state, wherever that is and stay there. He is so yesterday. Maybe he could manage Hillary's 2016 campaign.
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by bradkt1 June 10, 2009 1:37 AM EDT
The late Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil once said that all politics is local. To me, this is a case of the local guy who ran a good campaign and beat out the preferred candidate of the once-vaunted Clinton machine.

Virginia is not solidly in either the Democratic or Republican column. Clearly, Northern Virginia has become much more heavily populated by Democrats over the last 20 years or so, but it still has a lot of counties that are Republican in the central, western and southern part of the state. I think that it is fair to describe Virginia as a purple state. It's going to be an interesting rematch between the Democratic and GOP candidates. The independents and moderates will decide this election. GOP conservatives insisting on ideological purity by their candidate might just send them into the Democratic column. To me, that's the real issue to watch...where do the moderates and independents go...and why.

I also think that it's fair to question whether Democrats who turned out to vote in record numbers to support then-Senator Obama's historic bid for the Presidency will be motivated to go to the polls to vote for a Democratic candidate when President Obama is not on the ticket.

Political prognosticators on both sides may be trying to read too much into this race. Both candidates are fairly popular local guys and the candidate who runs the best campaign and gets the moderates and independents will win this one. I'm not so sure that this election will be affected either way by President Obama's political coattails or by a reaction to his policies. While this election will give everyone a decent read of the statewide pulse of the electorate, the outcome could be decided by purely local issues. There are too many variables. I don't really see this election as a verdict of sorts on President Obama's policies...but I am sure that will be claimed to be...one way or the other.
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by 45ford June 10, 2009 1:06 AM EDT
Unlike the McAuliffe and Moran surnames, Deeds is little known on the national stage. Is this an early sign of voter sentiment about "the establishment" and perhaps indicative of finally tossing them out of government? In all honesty, I hope so. Americans deserve better representation, leadership, vision and bipartisanship AND HONESTY that what we've been getting for many years now.
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by stn_sage June 10, 2009 12:21 AM EDT
What happened in this Democrat primary is pretty clear!

Virginians decided they don't want to see a 'carpet-bagger'---an outsider---get into the Governor's mansion!

Terry McAuliffe might have represented a lot of people, but most of them probably wouldn't have been Virginians!

I think they did the correct thing---the best man won the Democrat primary---now, onto the general election!!
Reply to this comment
by randomlybanned June 9, 2009 9:37 PM EDT
Ha-ha! The idiot, Terry McAuliffe, lost!!! This is incredibly good news!!!
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