Race Takes Shape

What had been a pretty sleepy campaign for governor woke up this week, with a number of important developments culminating in Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell's first debate this morning at the Homestead in rural Bath County.

The week saw some big endorsements--and non-endorsements. First, Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine's second biggest donor announced she was supporting Republican McDonnell. Deeds countered with the support of some moderate Republicans and the less surprising news that the Virginia Education Association is backing him. Good feeling from those nods was erased at week's end by news that former Democratic Gov. L. Douglas Wilder said he remains neutral, White House pressure or no.

We also saw some major policy roll outs--a jobs plan from Deeds, a transportation plan from McDonnell.

All of this will be grist for what should be a vigorous engagement between the two candidates in front of the Virginia Bar Association. The event gives both candidates their first clear opportunity to fight for the title of the race's moderate, to compare and contrast their plans and to personally size one another up, four years after the two battled to the closest finish in Virginia history in the 2005 race for attorney general.

Stay tuned at this site for live coverage of the debate starting at 11 a.m., including live analysis as the debate unfolds and streaming video of the event.