Deeds, Wagner Win Democratic Nod for 2009 Election
In a surprising come-from-behind victory, Creigh Deeds defeated former Democratic National Chairman Terry McAuliffe and former Delegate Brian Moran to become Virginia’s Democratic nominee for governor. Deeds, a lawyer from Bath County, started from behind and remained underfunded in a primary race infiltrated with endorsements and contributions from national political names. Polls repeatedly showed him in a distant third until the closing weeks before the primary. In the end, Deeds managed to capture ten of the eleven congressional districts and won a stunning 50 percent of the vote statewide.
McAuliffe could not overcome early stereotypes that portrayed him as a Virginia outsider. Despite raising twice the money of Deeds and making numerous campaign stops with former President Bill Clinton and rapper will.i.am, McAuliffe only managed to garner 27 percent of the vote. Moran, who was considered the early front-runner a year ago, led a defensive campaign often attacking McAuliffe for his business dealings and lack of involvement in Virginia politics. Although Moran has deep Virginia roots as a prosecutor and former state legislator, his political ties did not pay off in the end. He came in a distant third winning only 24 percent of the vote and losing even in his home region of Northern Virginia.
Deeds’ win puts him in position to avenge his 2005 loss to Bob McDonnell for the attorney general seat. McDonnell won that election by 360 votes, the smallest margin of victory ever in a modern Virginia statewide race. In a Rasmussen poll conducted the day after the primary, Deeds had the early advantage over his Republican opponent taking 47 percent of the vote to McDonnell’s 41 percent. However, Republicans have already begun suggesting that Deeds may have difficulty winning the Northern Virginia suburbanite vote because of his rural background and unpolished demeanor. On the other hand, political analysts acknowledge that Virginia is considerably more moderate and Democratic than in 2005 and that Deeds may ride the coattails of President Barrack Obama. In the 2008 election, Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Virginia in 44 years.
Deeds’ coffers are certain to grow in the coming months as Governor Tim Kaine chairs the Democratic National Committee and has access to millions of dollars. The Democratic Governors Association has pumped $3 million into the state since March with the underlying goal of defeating McDonnell. They have pledged to continue spending unspecified amounts in Virginia between now and November. In addition, the Democratic National Party will play a heavy hand in helping to coordinate Deeds’ campaign efforts.
In the race for lieutenant governor, former Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner won a shutout victory defeating Michael Signer with 74% of the vote. Signer, a campaign strategist and national security expert from Arlington, never created much ground movement despite being from vote-rich Northern Virginia. Wagner will face current Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling in the November election. In the months leading up to the Democratic primary and Republican convention, Wagner spent nearly $200,000 more than Bolling. As of the May 27 reporting deadline, Bolling had $928,707 in cash on hand compared to Wagner’s $272,885.
Delegate Steve Shannon went uncontested as the party’s nominee for attorney general. Shannon represents part of Fairfax County and will be pitted against another Fairfax legislator, Senator Ken Cuccinelli, in the November election. Shannon had seven and a half times the amount of cash on hand as Cuccinelli at the last reporting deadline.