While many pundits and GOP talking heads are crowing that the GOP win in Virginia somehow represents a commentary on the Obama administration, Governor elect Bob McDonnell (at left) himself attributes his win to Virginia issues, not those on the national scene. Yes, Obama's failure to deliver on campaign promises suppressed Democrat enthusiasm and likely lowered Democrat turnout, but the main reason for the GOP victory is that the Democrats picked the worse possible candidate for governor back in the June primary. I continue to believe that Brian Moran would have been a far more inspiring candidate for the Democrats. Compounding that factor was the utterly horrendous campaign run by Deeds. Meanwhile, McDonnell had a three month start on campaigning and ran a smooth if disingenous campaign that relentlessly depicted him as a moderate. From years as a political activist it is always troubling to see how easily those who are not political/news junkies can fall for a slick but dishonest campaign. National Republicans can and will believe what they want, but Virginia should not be seen as part of a larger trend. Here are highlights from the Virginian Pilot:*
Virginia's Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, whose win last Tuesday sparked a wave of speculation about President Barack Obama's standing a year after his own historic election, attributed his victory to "Virginia issues" rather than fallout over the national agenda.
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"I ran on Virginia issues, kitchen table issues," McDonnell said "That's largely what got people to support our campaign." But he said national issues, particularly climate-change, also played to his favor with Virginia voters.
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While the governor-elect said he has not read the nearly 2,000-page health care bill the House passed late Saturday night, he voiced strong opposition to the public option and said whether the Senate approves an opt-in or opt-out version, Virginia is unlikely to participate. “Either way my preference would be not to have Virginia participate, from what I know this plan contains,” McDonnell said. “So however they structure it, if it gives flexibility to the states, that’s a good thing.”
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Virginia's Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, whose win last Tuesday sparked a wave of speculation about President Barack Obama's standing a year after his own historic election, attributed his victory to "Virginia issues" rather than fallout over the national agenda.
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"I ran on Virginia issues, kitchen table issues," McDonnell said "That's largely what got people to support our campaign." But he said national issues, particularly climate-change, also played to his favor with Virginia voters.
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While the governor-elect said he has not read the nearly 2,000-page health care bill the House passed late Saturday night, he voiced strong opposition to the public option and said whether the Senate approves an opt-in or opt-out version, Virginia is unlikely to participate. “Either way my preference would be not to have Virginia participate, from what I know this plan contains,” McDonnell said. “So however they structure it, if it gives flexibility to the states, that’s a good thing.”
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It is disturbing that McDonnell opposes a public option. Perhaps after Virginians get f*cked over on health care reform - which is desperately needed - by GOP ideology, Virginia will be ready to swing back to the Democrat column.
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