Ken Cuccinelli, who was elected the state's new attorney general Tuesday, announced today that his transition will be led by a pair of former attorneys general -- Democrat Andrew Miller and Republican Richard Cullen -- along with former state GOP chairman Pat McSweeney.

Miller who ran for governor and U.S. Senate in the 1970s is a lawyer in Washington.

Cullen completed Jim Gilmore's term as attorney general when he resigned to run for governor and now heads the McGuire Woods law firm in Richmond. He is close to Governor-elect Bob McDonnell.

McSweeney in a Richmond lawyer who challenged the constitutionality of a proposed transportation sales-tax referendum and the state's 2007 landmark transportation plan, including its high fees for egregious driving offenses.

Republican Bernie McNamee was named transition director. McNamee is Cullen's law partner and a lobbyist who worked for former attorney general Jerry Kilgore and former Gov. George Allen.

Virginia Republicans are eager to hold on to the soon-to-be open seats in the state Senate.

Sen. Ken Cuccinelli from Fairfax County was elected the state's attorney general and Sen. Ken Stolle was elected Virginia Beach's new sheriff. Stolle's seat will likely stay in GOP hands but Democrats thinks they can pick up the increasingly left-leaning district held by Cuccinelli. He is the only remaining Republican senator in Northen Virginia.

Three Republicans are already running -- Marianne Horinko, a former George W. Bush appointee who runs a consulting firm, Steve Hunt, a former member of the Fairfax County School Board, and Will Nance, executive director of Greenspring Retirement Community. Their Websites went live after Tuesday's election.

Democrats who have been talked about for the seat include Dels. David L. Bulova and Dave W. Marsden (D-Fairfax) and Janet Oleszek, a former school board member who ran against Cuccinelli in 2007.

Gov. Tim Kaine has yet to call a special election to fill either seat.

Democrats hold a one-seat advantage in the state Senate, and Republicans are talking about whether the incoming governor Bob McDonnell would try to lure a couple of Democrats in GOP-leaning districts into his administration, paving the way to switch control of the chamber. McDonnell sidestepped questions about that possibility this week.

Yes, that's right.

During his election night speech, attorney general-elect Ken Cuccinelli brought out a broom to signify the Republican Party's sweep of the top three statewide posts.

The blue-colored broom (oddly not red) was emblazoned with the name amalgam: McBollinelli.

Minutes later, a "Don't Tread On Me" flag -- a frequent presence in Cuccinelli's campaign -- was unfurled. It's a symbol, Cuccinelli said, of a "limited government that respects constitutional boundaries." It also got the core conservative crowd hollering.

Both Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. R. Creigh Deeds and attorney general candidate Del. Stephen C. Shannon (D-Fairfax) said moments ago that the name of the game tonight is turnout.

The turnout so far inside the Richmond hotel ballroom reserved for their election night bash is sparse. It's scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

With little more than an hour to go before the polls close, the room rented out at the Westin had plenty of reporters, video cameras and campaign staffers--but there were virtually no guests in sight so early in the evening.

Candlelit tables covered in white cloth dotted an empty ballroom floor in front of an empty stage, over which a massive banner hung reading: "ALL IN FOR VIRGINIA."

Deeds (D-Bath) made the rounds, stopping to chat with various TV networks. The Washington Post caught up with him for no more than 30 seconds in a hallway before he rushed away toward the lobby.

"I feel great," said the candidate, who lagged in pre-election polls. "We have an hour and 25 minutes left to turn voters out and we're working as hard as we can to get them turned out. What I'm hearing is good news from places like Charlottesville and some areas of Hampton Roads and Roanoke and Arlington, Alexandria--all good for us. We need it to be better, but I'm hearing some good news so far."

He didn't mention Fairfax County, Virginia's largest jurisdiction, and a critical component of a Deeds victory.

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

This is it! Election Day has finally arrived. Check back frequently for all of our election coverage throughout the day and night.

In the meantime, here's some morning reading to start your day:

Republican Bob McDonnell will vote outside Richmond this morning, before greeting voters at his childhood precinct in Fairfax County and at a Virginia Beach precint he represented in the House of Delegates.

Democrat Creigh Deeds will vote in Bath County this morning before greeting voters in Charlottesville, which he represents in the state Senate.

Both men will spend election night in the capital city. McDonnell will be at the Marriott downtown with Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli, candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Deeds will be at the Westin Hotel in Richmond's West End with Gov. Tim Kaine and Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon, candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Monday, Nov. 2, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

The polls open in less than 24 hours!

In what has to be one of the last polls before Election Day, Republican Bob McDonnell leads Democrat Creigh Deeds, 53 to 41, in a Mason Dixon poll released this weekend.

In the same poll, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling is up 13 percentage point over Jody Wagner and Republican Ken Cuccinelli is up 14 percentage points over Steve Shannon in the race for attorney general.

Whoever wins the governor's mansion Tuesday will face continuing budget shortfalls and will have to figure out how to pay for ambitious campaign promises.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has recorded a phone message encouraging Virginians to get out and vote on Tuesday, while Gov. Tim Kaine makes calls for Shannon.

The last newspaper endorsements came out Sunday, and now it's just up to sophisticated get-out-the-vote efforts to get Virginians to the polls.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has recorded a phone message encouraging Virginians to get out and vote on Tuesday, Palin adviser Meg Stapleton told us tonight.

We are awaiting more details about the calls and will bring you the information as soon as we get it.

Tucker Martin, a spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, said Palin's calls were not being made at the request of the campaign or the Republican Party of Virginia. He said the campaign had no firsthand knowledge of the calls.

Almost all of the Republicans considered top candidates for a 2012 presidential run have made stops in Virginia this year to help McDonnell. But McDonnell has made it pretty clear in recent months that he did not want Palin's help.

McDonnell epeatedly and personally asked Palin for help this summer, but by late August Palin learned that the McDonnell campaign no longer wanted her assistance, Stapleton told us a few weeks ago.

Palin drew enormous, enthusiastic crowds in Virginia while campaigning as Sen. John McCain's runningmate during the presidential election last year. But she is a polarizing figure that could turn off independent voters. In the summer, she drew criticism for abruptly resigning as governor and later insisting that the healthcare bill being considered by Congress would cause the creation of "death panels."

It is now not out of the realm of possibility that by Tuesday's election day, Republican Bob McDonnell will have received a three times as much a Democrat Creigh Deeds in late big-dollar donations.

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, as of 5 p.m. on Saturday, McDonnell had collected $1.34 million in big contributions since Oct. 21, when the candidates began having to report gifts of $5,000 or more within 24 hours. Deeds had collected only $549,000 in big donations since then.

Those numbers included gifts through Oct. 30 and they showed that donations to McDonnell have been snowballing in recent days as poll after poll has shown him with big leads and contributors perhaps look to provide some late help to the candidate they perceive as the likely victor.

On Friday alone, McDonnell collected $184,310 in such gifts. Deeds received only $40,000.

The folks at the Richmond Times Dispatch asked all six statewide candidates to answer a series of policy questions and published them today.

They didn't break much new ground (after all, we're only two days from election day) but if you're still trying to decide who to vote for, check out the answers on jobs, transportation, college tuition, abortion and off shore drilling.

Gubernatorial candidates, Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell are here

Lieutenant governor candidates, Jody Wagner and Bill Bolling are here

Attorney general candidates, Steve Shannon and Ken Cuccinelli are here

A final Mason-Dixon poll in the Virginia race shows Republican Bob McDonnell continues to lead big over Democrat Creigh Deeds going into Tuesday's election. The survey, funded by the Richmond Times Dispatch, the Virginian Pilot and other state media outlets, showed McDonnell with a 12-point lead, while his ticketmates Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli led opponents Jody Wagner and Del. Steve Shannon by 13 points and 14 points respectively.

What must be most encouraging for McDonnell about all these late polls that have shown with strong, double-digit leads is that they have provided no indication that core Democratic groups are showing late enthusiasm for Deeds. His campaign is insisting it is running an aggressive effort to reach out to voters who helped elect President Obama last year.

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
Good morning Virginia! Here's what's happening in politics across the Commonwealth today.

With just four days until Tuesday's election, we are now at the stage where there is nothing new for the candidates to say. Just many more people for them to say it to, and quickly.

Each have launched their final sweeps through the state, as Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds start multi-day, many stop stumps.

McDonnell's five-day, 25-stop "New Jobs, More Opportunities: It Starts Now!" tour began yesterday, with stops in Glen Allen, Danville, Martinsville and Rocky Mount. Deeds was in Richmond and Roanoke.

Both candidates finished their days Thursday greeting spectators tailgating at the Virginia Tech-UNC football game. The fans surely were eager to discuss issues of importance to the Commonwealth. Or, perhaps they were drunk and excited for the opportunity to hand their cellphones to a candidate, after shouting to their girlfriends/buddies/mothers, "Hey, talk to this guy! He's running for governor!"

Deeds's final tour is a four-day. 20-stop "All in for Virginia" tour, which will focus heavily on get out the vote efforts. The Democrat will hit Northern Virginia today. McDonnell today is in Lynchburg, Waynesboro, Culpeper, Ashland and Virginia Beach.

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009
Good morning Virginia! Here's what's happening in politics across the Commonwealth today.

Five days until the election, and the candidates continue their mad dash last campaign sweeps around the state. A day after President Obama came to town for Democrat Creigh Deeds, Republican Bob McDonnell gets help from some of his party's biggest stars. Likely 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney traveled with McDonnell Wednesday. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani campaigned on McDonnell's behalf in Fredericksburg and Fairfax, telling crowds that he hopes McDonnell sparks a national Republican resurgence akin to the one that began in 1993 with his own election as mayor and George Allen's election as Virginia governor.

McDonnell today visits Glen Allen, Danville, Martinsville, Rocky Mount and then concludes the day tailgating at the Virginia Tech football game in Blacksburg. Deeds yesterday was in Charlottesville, Reston and Sterling and today has several events in Richmond, then goes to Roanoke and also finishes the day out in the parking lots of Virginia Tech's football stadium.

Take from this what you will: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is in Virginia today to campaign for McDonnell. He will also be spending election night in Richmond. Democratic National Committee chairman Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, on the other hand, heads today to New Jersey to campaign for Democratic governor Jon Corzine. (He'll be back Friday to pick up work on Deeds's behalf.)

Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor and possible presidential hopeful, spent a long ay flying across the state with the Republican ticket -- Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinell.

"This is a team that has the experience and qualifications to be able to get this state rolling again, creating jobs,'' Romney said. "This is a jobs ticket."

The four appeared together at a fundraiser in Virginia Beach on behalf of McDonnell, a rally in Roanoke and a press conference in Richmond. They flew in a borrowed plane belonging to Dan Banker, who owns Lynchburg-based Banker Steel, which is helping put together the foundation for the Freedom Tower at Ground Zero.

Romney also headlined a pair of fundraisers for Bolling today -- one this morning in Charlottesville and one tonight outside Richmond. The two events will bring in about $150,000. His fundraiser for McDonnell brought in $100,000.

"We will feel pretty good about where we are in this campaign six days prior to election day,'' Bolling said. "But we know that to win we have to work just as hard the next six days as we have the last six months. And that's exactly what we intend to do."

The GOP ticket will leave for a five-day tour across the state tomorrow morning.

Expect to see a lot of Michael Steele this week.

The chairman of the Republican National Committee will rally volunteers at a campaign office outside Richmond tonight as they begin another night of calling potential voters.

Thursday and Friday, Steele will be with Bob McDonnell and the entire Republican ticket as they campaign in Southside, Southwest and Central Virginia.

In an interview, Steele told us that he expects to spend election night with McDonnell in Richmond too.

Does that mean he expects to win the governor's mansion in Virginia, and not New Jersey?

Of course, he didn't say that. He said he expects to spend time in the Garden State earlier on Tuesday.

Updated: For those of you who are wondering, Gov. Tim Kaine, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will also be In Richmond on election night. Kaine will spend the evening at Deeds's party. Steve Shannon and Jody Wagner will also be there.

Yesterday, the Log Cabin Republicans praised Republican Bob McDonnell for his "inclusive" statements promising never to discriminate against employees on the basis of sexual orientation.

Today, the group of Republican gay activists slammed McDonnell's ticket-mate, Ken Cuccinelli, for the reverse. Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for attorney general, was quoted in the Virginian-Pilot newspaper declining to commit to the state's nondiscrimination policy against gays and lesbians.

"My view is that homosexual acts, not homosexuality, but homosexual acts are wrong," Cuccinelli told the newspaper. "They're intrinsically wrong. And I think in a natural law based country it's appropriate to have policies that reflect that. . . They don't comport with natural law. I happen to think that it represents (to put it politely; I need my thesaurus to be polite) behavior that is not healthy to an individual and in aggregate is not healthy to society."

David Lampo, vice president of the Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia, put out the following statement today:

"That Mr. Cuccinelli would make such incendiary and prejudicial remarks as a candidate for the state's highest legal office is truly frightening, and we call on him to apologize for injecting his personal and hateful opinions into this race," said David Lampo, vice president of the Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia. "The overwhelming majority of Virginia voters, 90 percent according to Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, support a policy of employment nondiscrimination for state employees. We hope voters evaluate very carefully a candidate who intends to let his personal beliefs and prejudices guide his decision making as Attorney General."

"Cuccinelli's remarks stand in stark contrast to the inclusive statements of Bob McDonnell, the Republican candidate for Governor," Lampo continued, "Mr. McDonnell has rightfully said the government should not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, and so we call on Republican leaders and candidates throughout Virginia to repudiate Cuccinelli's hateful remarks and stand with Bob McDonnell on this important issue."

Cuccinelli's opponent, Democrat Steve Shannon, also criticized Cuccinelli for his remarks. Shannon sent a letter to McDonnell urging him to denounce Cuccinelli's remarks, and McDonnell did -- sort of, while also taking a swipe at Shannon for focusing on the issue at all.

"Bob McDonnell's record and position is clear: he does not tolerate discrimination of any kind and he hires and promotes based solely on merit and ability," spokesman Tucker Martin said. "That was his policy as attorney general, and will be his policy as governor. There are only six days left in this critically important race. Bob will spend that time continuing to advance innovative ideas to create new jobs, improve our schools, fix our roads and turn Virginia's economy around. Steve Shannon, as a candidate for statewide office in these tough times, should think about doing the same thing."

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Good Morning Virginia! Here's what's happening in politics across the Commonwealth today.

With just a week to go before Election Day, President Barack Obama sweeps into Norfolk for a brief but spirited rally for Democrat Creigh Deeds' bid for governor.

A presidential visit--with its Hail-to-the-Chiefiness and its Air Force One photo ops--is all-consuming to the news cycle of a state race, a fact obvious from a quick glance at this morning's Virginia media. Every outlet in the state carried news of the president, his exhortation "I don't believe in can't," and his plea for his supporters to ignore polls and pundits and work to get Deeds elected.

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Good morning, Virginia! Here's what's happening in politics across the Commonwealth today.

Virginia voters go to the polls one week from today. Which makes news that Republican Bob McDonnell now leads Democrat Creigh Deeds in the race for governor by 11 points in a new Post poll all the more exciting for Republicans and worrying for Democrats. Though Deeds often talks about past races where he overcame a deficit in the polls, the numbers this year have all been moving towards McDonnell in the last few weeks and time is running out.

Plus, McDonnell has already been outspending Deeds and he will continue to do so through Nov. 3--as new reports from the Virginia Public Access Project show he raised more than Deeds in the first three weeks of October.

The big news today will take place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, where Deeds rallies with President Obama. If anything could still scramble the race's dynamics in the last few days, it would be the engagement of so-called Obama surge voters, non-regular voters who came out for the president last year. Can a splashy, though brief, rally help? (Obama will be in Virginia for just a couple hours, total.)

Virginia NAACP Executive Director King Salim Khalfani repeatedly criticized Democratic attorney general candidate Steve Shannon and Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling for failing to attend the group's candidate's forum last night.

Khalfani mentioned their absences multiple times in front of the more than 100 people gathered at the Richmond Marriott for the candidate's forum as part of the group's annual conference.

He told the audience how Shannon initially agreed to come but then canceled two days ago with a phone call in which he said he assumed his Republican opponent Ken Cuccinelli was not attending either. Actually, Khalfani said, Cuccinelli was the first of six statewide candidates to RSVP and did so personally.

He also said that Bolling's campaign called for the first time an hour before the event to say Bolling could not attend and offered to send a surrogate in his place, but the NAACP told the campaign that the group does not allow surrogates.

Just how excited is the Republican National Committee about Virginia this year?

Today, the RNC transferred $300,000 to Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli and House Speaker Bill Howell on behalf of his members.

"From the Virginia delegate races all the way to the Governor's mansion it is the top priority of the Republican National Committee to help Virginia Republicans win again,'' RNC Chairman Michael Steele told us in a statement this afternoon. "All of our efforts are focused on rebuilding our Republican majority and we see Virginia as the first step in achieving that goal."

The RNC has made an unprecedented committment to Virginia -- nearly $8 million -- that is being directly given to candidates and being spent on getting voters to the polls Nov. 3.

The RNC and the state GOP together coordinate the state's get-out-of-the vote efforts with 30 offices and 40 staffers across the state.

Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Good morning, Virginia! Just 11 days to go until Election Day, and today we have some news for you.

Democrat R. Creigh Deeds took a body blow Thursday from the White House, where senior administration sources said they were deeply frustrated with his failure to more fully embrace President Barack Obama on the campaign trail. Preparing for a Deeds loss, these officials seem to be trying to minimize any damage to the president or his agenda by laying the blame squarely at the candidate's feet.

Deeds appeared before the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Hampton Thursday night, while surrogates continued the campaign's "Educational Opportunity" school bus tour across the state in a school bus.

Republican Robert F. McDonnell continued his "New Jobs, New Virginia" tour yesterday with a stop in Culpeper and the debut of a new ad, "Jobs." He also reiterated, as forcefully as one can, that he has no plans to raise taxes if elected.

Today, McDonnell continues the jobs tour with stops in Manassas and Arlington, and he goes before the Southern Christian Leadership Conference tonight. Deeds rallies in Petersburg with actors and film industry leaders Tim and Daphne Reid. Both candidates will appear tonight in Richmond before the Virginia chapter of the NAACP.

In other news, Newsweek takes a look at Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's leadership at the Democratic National Committee.

The proverbial sparks flew at a debate Thursday between attorney general hopefuls Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican, and Steve Shannon, the Democrat.

Stephen C. Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, accused Republican rival Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II today of planning to fight the federal government in a way reminiscent of the state's opposition to civil rights legislation in the past.

At a debate in Richmond, Shannon said Virginians who opposed federal law supported slavery, shut down schools instead of integrating them, prevented inter-racial marriage and sterilized the mentally retarded.

"Our history in Virginia of states' rights is not a flattering picture,'' Shannon said. "When he's talking about states' rights, you have to understand the mistakes we have made in the past."

Cuccinelli called Shannon a "race baiter" and later told reporters that his opponent took his allegations too far.

"That is truly desperate and over the line,'' he said. "He was just literally trying to throw a grenade in and, frankly, it's terribly inappropriate."

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

Good morning politicos! Twelve days to go until Election Day, and the campaigns for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates are sprinting along.

The narrative remained largely static Wednesday, with more encouraging poll numbers for Republican Bob McDonnell and more evidence that Democrat Creigh Deeds is banking on a last-minute surge of support from supporters of President Obama.

Public Policy Polling, which uses a methodology that our in-house polling experts don't love, released numbers Wednesday giving McDonnell a 12-point lead over Deeds, a large jump from three weeks ago, when the same firm put Deeds within five points.

Deeds announced that Obama would campaign with him next Tuesday at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Deeds also launched a new TV ad featuring Obama campaigning for him in Tysons Corner.

McDonnell launched his "New Jobs, New Virginia" tour yesterday with a stop at a Lynchburg furniture maker; today he continues the tour with a visit to a Culpeper home building company. And he got a boost when former state senator Brandon Bell, a Republican who had endorsed Deeds, switched horses midstream.

Deeds's only public appearance today is at a forum in Hampton sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Left-leaning blogs and Democratic twitters are giving Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds a hard time over his comment at Tuesday night's final debate in Salem, indicating that he would consider opting out of a public health insurance option if Congress extended that possibility to the states. Daily Kos has run some items taking Deeds to task over his wishy-washy support for the public option, for instance. That's not to mention Virginia bloggers Ben Tribbett and Lowell Feld.

After the debate, Deeds tried to explain to reporters that he believed the public option might help reduce health care costs and expand coverage, but he is not certain it is the best way to achieve those goals. "It may be one way, it might not be the best way," he said.

(His campaign also circulated a statement today about the issue saying that "if the public option proves to be the best way" to reduce costs and expand coverage, "he'd support having Virginia participate. He'll examine all of the proposals on the table and choose the option than provides Virginians with the most affordable and quality coverage.")

But his attempt to clarify his position has now been turned into a new Republican video that is making the rounds, much like the Fairfax Count post-debate scrum.

And now it appears Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Jody Wagner is embracing the public option more vigorously, at least slightly, than Deeds.

It's hard to know whether the online world will filter into the rest of the world on this issue. But it's clear Deeds needs to energize committed Democrats behind his efforts--and some of them were not at all impressed with his answer on health care.

Just check out some of the tweets.

Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for attorney general, is up on the air new with a new TV ad that accuses his Democratic opponent Steve Shannon of not knowing much about being attorney general.

At their last debate, Cuccinelli asked Shannon to name all the divisions in the attorney general's office.

Shannon said he would get back to the question, but that first he wanted to return to a previous issue. Later, when he did return to the question, he said it didn't matter. He never did answer the question.

"Shannon didn't answer the questions ... because Shannon doesn't know the job,'' the ad says at the end.

Check out the ad here:

(For the record, Office of the Attorney General spokesman David Clementson shared the following divisions off of the department's internal organizational chart: Administration; Civil Litigation; Financial Law and Government Support; Health, Education and Social Services; Technology Real Estate, Environment and Transportation; Public Safety and Enforcement; and STAG (Sexually Violent Predators, Tobacco and Agriculture) and Debt Collections. The only place these appear to be listed and described online are in annual reports from the state auditor (pdf file).

Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, released two new TV ads today. Both ads attack his Republican opponent, Ken Cuccinelli, for having what Shannon calls a "personal political agenda."

"Unfortunately, my opponent has not released a single public safety proposal,'' Shannon said. "Instead, he has focused on divisive issues and his personal political agenda, and has even said won't enforce laws he disagrees with."

Watch the ads here:

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009

Good morning, politicos! Just 14 days to go until Election Day, and things are looking good for the GOP/bad for the Dems.

A new poll gives Republicans Robert F. McDonnell a substantial lead over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds. We have a few issues with this poll, but there's another one out this morning from Clarus that shows McDonnell up by 8 points, 49 to 41.

Democrat Creigh Deeds says he's still got plenty of time, and that his campaign will now focus on drawing out supporters of President Obama and core Democrats generally.

The candidates for lieutenant governor, incumbent Republican Bill Bolling and Democrat Jody Wagner, took the proverbial gloves off last night in a televised debate.

And Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, unveiled a tough new ad accusing Republican Ken Cuccinelli of not being tough enough on public corruption because he hasn't called for the resignation of Del. Phil Hamilton.

The gubernatorial candidates meet for their final debate tonight in Roanoke. McDonnell is holed up to prepare, while Deeds will fit in a quick campaign appearance in Tysons Corner at lunchtime today with former president Bill Clinton and his pal Terry McAuliffe.

There's more grim news out regarding Virginia's revenue outlook, raising the obvious question of why all these folks even want the jobs they're seeking.

Lastly, we'll leave you with this thought: Bob McDonnell for President!

Steve Shannon, the Democrat running for attorney general, released a new ad today titled "Cronies," in which he ties his opponent, Republican Ken Cuccinelli, to embattled Del. Phil Hamilton (R-Newport News).

Cuccinelli was the only statewide candidate this year not to ask Hamilton to resign after it was revealed that Hamilton sought a job at Old Dominion University while also trying to get state money for the school. In August, Cuccinelli said he believed that the voters should decide Hamilton's fate.

"The circumstances that Delegate Phil Hamilton is involved in are disappointing,'' he said at the time. "My understanding of those circumstances suggest that it is in an issue between Del. Hamilton and voters in his district. The issue is now on the table in that race and will be part of the decision voters in that district make as they consider who will represent them in the state house over the next two years."

Monday, Oct. 19, 2009

Good morning, politicos! Just 15 days to go, and boy has it gotten busy. Republican Robert F. McDonnell and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds have transformed the race for governor into a sprint, with both zooming through mostly friendly crowds over the weekend to rev up their bases.

On Saturday, McDonnell rallied veterans in Virginia Beach with U.S. Sen. John McCain -- but coverage of the event didn't turn out exactly as planned when McDonnell was asked for his views on climate change. McDonnell went on to attend a Norfolk State-Hampton University football game in Norfolk, a seafood festival in heavily Republican Poquoson, a voter event in Glen Allen with House Minority Whip Eric I. Cantor and a Hispanic reception at a Mexican restaurant in Richmond.

Deeds flooded the zone too, rallying across Northern Virginia Saturday with various ethnic groups seen as crucial to Democratic turnout: Latinos in Baileys Crossroads, Vietnamese at the Eden Center in Falls Church, Ethiopians and more. On Sunday, Deeds hit five black churches in the Richmond area (and if you think that's a lot, wait until next week, when he's planning to visit 15 in one day in Hampton Roads). Terry McAuliffe rallied canvassers at his McLean home Sunday after going at it with Karl Rove on Fox News Sunday (and betting Rove $5 that Deeds will win).

Happy Friday Virginia! Here's what's happening around the state in politics.

More evidence today that Republican Robert F. McDonnell has the advantage with less than three weeks left in the race for governor. As of Oct. 1, McDonnell had $4.5 million in the bank, $1.8 million more than his opponent Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, and in September had about 6,400 donors compared with Deeds's 3,800. Lots more information on the recent reports from all the Nov. election candidates -- and on all things campaign finance -- available from our friends at the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.

Deeds comes to Northern Virginia today, where Organizing for America, the Democratic group that grew out of President Obama's historic campaign, launches a major canvassing push this weekend. While there's still no word on a second campaign visit by Obama to the state, Obama's opponent from last fall, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), headlines a veterans rally for McDonnell in Virginia Beach tomorrow.

The National Jewish Democratic Council launched a major push Thursday in Virginia, its largest ever in the commonwealth, the organization said. The group will send at least three paid organizers to the state, including one based at the University of Virginia focusing on students, and is also organizing a Virginia Volunteer Corps. There will also be literature drops, phone calls and other grass-roots canvassing.

NJDC Political Director Linda Berg said the group's members were excited by Virginia's turning blue last year and determined to keep the state in the Democratic column this year -- particularly given the national attention on Virginia as harbinger of the 2010 midterm elections.

Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, launched a new TV ad today that criticizes Republican Ken Cuccinelli for what Shannon calls a "weak" record on drunk driving legislation.

"My opponent has not released a single plan to combat drunk driving in Virginia, and in the state Senate he has consistently voted against tougher penalties for drunk drivers,'' Shannon said. "Virginia needs better public safety leadership than that."

Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for attorney general, has a new advertisement running across Virginia accusing his Democratic opponent, Steve Shannon, of not helping fix state law to address a Supreme Court decision that could have jeopardized thousands of DUI and drug convictions in Virginia.

The ad is so objectionable to Shannon and other Democrats that he and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine held a conference call with reporters to offer their version of events.

View the ad here:

At issue is a recent Supreme Court ruling in the Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts case that says live testimony is needed to introduce scientific reports in criminal trials. After the ruling, Cuccinelli was the first lawmaker in Virginia to publicly ask Kaine to call a legislative session to address the issue.

Both Shannon and Kaine were among those who sought to fix the issue administratively, without legislative intervention. Shannon went so far as to call Cuccinelli's open letter a "political stunt;" he also expressed concerns about the cost of a legislative session.

Today, Kaine said he and his staff had numerous conversations with Shannon, a former prosecutor, on how to address the Melendez-Diaz case. Cuccinelli's implication that Shannon did nothing is "frankly something that either he or somebody on his team just made up," the governor said.

"Everyone agreed that the preferable way to fix this was to try to fix it administratively," Kaine said. "We concluded that there were many items we could fix administratively and we moved to do that, but there were some items that required legislative action and we did that. We didn't wait. We weren't asleep at the switch. We acted to fix this more quickly than anybody else."

Here's the text of Cuccinelli's ad.

Narrator: It's a study in contrasts and judgment. Ken Cuccinelli earning praise for forcing a change in the law to protect the public. Steve Shannon called it a political stunt, offered no solutions, while DUI and felony drug cases were being thrown out of court. Shannon put politics before public safety. The Fraternal Order of Police said "No" to Steve Shannon. They endorsed Ken Cuccinelli for attorney general.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell may have been "delighted" that President Obama was awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize, but his ticket-mate, attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli, feels a little differently.

"Well, it's official, the Nobel Peace Prize is officially meaningless," Cuccinelli opened his Cuccinelli Compass newsletter to supporters Friday. He went on to quote commentator John Podhoretz about what Cuccinelli termed the "Nobel hilarity." Podhoretz argued that the win is not surprising because Obama represents the Nobel committee's highest ideals because he is "an American President queasy about the projection of American power."

"I suspect that whoever nominated him actually did it as a joke. And how about that, it really did turn out to be a joke," Cuccinelli concluded on the subject.

Today, we told you about how Republicans are more energized about the governor's race this year than Democrats, in part because of disillusionment with Democratic leadership in Washington. Well, "disillusioned" is an understatement for the deep concern felt by many of the folks who attended the "Defending the American Dream Summit" in Crystal City last Saturday, sponsored by the conservative Americans for Prosperity.

The controversial group has played a prominent role at the some of the tense "Tea Party" and health care reform protests around the country, and has been among those loudly asserting that current events in Washington are leading the nation on a path to socialism.

AFP receives most of its funding from a foundation run by two brothers who control an oil-and-gas conglomerate in Kansas. A frequent target of liberal critics, AFP leaders insist that their efforts aren't mere industry-funded "astroturfing," saying that their bus tours around the country are getting an overwhelming turnout from local residents.

Friday, Oct. 9, 2009

Good morning and happy Friday everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

Big news. The Washington Post released a new poll showing that Republican Bob McDonnell has widened his lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds. The entire GOP ticket is up by a hefty nine points.

The poll shows a lack of enthusiasm among many voters who elected President Obama last year and raises questions for the Democrats as they head into the 2010 mid-term elections. Democrats continue to wonder what Deeds's message will be and what the White House's role will be in the remaining weeks of the campaign.

Deeds will be a guest on Mark Plotkin's radio show on WTOP at 10 a.m. Listen here. Tonight, he'll join fans at the Riverbend High football game in Fredericksburg.

McDonnell will attend the Patrick County Rally with former U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode in Stuart and the Greater Richmond Urban League of Young Professionals candidate's forum tonight.

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

Vice President Joe Biden returns to Virginia for a second time to help Democrat Creigh Deeds raise some cash at a mid-day event in Alexandria. It's a busy fundraising day for Deeds. Tonight, he appears with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley at the Potomac home of lobbyist Barbara Goldberg Goldman.

Republican Bob McDonnell will discuss plans to aid senior citizens at the Herndon Senior Center. Yes, McDonnell is still rolling out policy proposals less than four weeks before the big day.

Questions continue to arise about Deeds's negative message and whether he can make his case to voters in the last month of the race -- with or without help from President Obama.

The Wall Street Journal weighs into the Virginia governor's race for the second day in a row. This time, the paper reports on the Deeds campaign's formation of 60 book clubs to talk about McDonnell's graduate thesis.

It wasn't a James Brown concert but it sorta felt like one when supporters of state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for Virginia attorney general, filed into tonight's candidate debate in Prince William County draped in yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flags.

Again proving that Cuccinelli-Shannon is the most dramatic down-ballot matchup of 2009, the two candidates were not shy about attacking one another on a range of issues.

Cuccinelli criticized Shannon for not supporting a special session last summer to address a Supreme Court decision that could have caused thousands of drunk-driving cases to be thrown out. Shannon criticized Cuccinelli for not demanding the resignation of Republican Del. Phil Hamilton, the embattled Newport News Republican who is under investigation for accepting a part-time job from Old Dominion University while securing the school a $500,000 state appropriation.

Cuccinelli criticized Shannon for having a "100 percent" pro-union voting record and for accepting money and endorsements from labor organizations. Shannon reminded the audience that he, and not Cuccinelli, has gotten the majority of pro-business endorsements this year.

Shannon: "All things being equal, Republicans should be getting the business endorsements, but Ken's not getting very many."

Cuccinelli: "He can have the pro-tax endorsements. I'll take the small-business owners who want government off their backs and out of their way."

They talked about guns, immigration and taxes. And they talked about whether Cuccinelli, an unabashed conservative who calls himself a strict constructionist when it comes to the constitution, plans to enforce state laws that he doesn't agree with. Shannon said he doesn't. Cuccinelli said he does.

The best moment was probably when Cuccinelli asked Shannon to name all the divisions in the attorney general's office. Shannon said he'd get to that in a second but first wanted to address Cuccinelli's previous remarks about a state tax increase in 2004.

Cuccinelli leaped to his feet, turned to moderator Scott Thuman of WJLA-TV, and said:
"Mr. Moderator, in court I'd object to a witness not answering the question."

Oh well, it wasn't court. Shannon didn't answer the question.

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds shared a stage twice yesterday. Well, sort of.

First, they appeared at a candidate's forum sponsored by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. Later, they participated in interviews as part of a previously taped hour-long TV special where Deeds blamed Washington woes for his problems.

Today, McDonnell will shake some hands at the Chesapeake Sheriff's Great American Food Fest while Deeds will discuss his higher ed plans with students and faculty at the University of Virginia.

Sen. John McCain will hold a veterans rally for McDonnell this month, while the Wall Street Journal is just the latest newspaper to wonder if McCain's former opponent, President Obama is distancing himself from Deeds's campaign.

The flap over billonaire BET co-founder Sheila Johnson's remarks about Deeds' speaking styleis not quite over. A Northern Virginia PAC that advocates on behalf of people with disabilities is calling on McDonnell to apologize for his supporter's remarks. The issue has prompted some to wonder if the race is all about style ?

Gov. Tim Kaine, his party's national chairman, talks about Deeds's need to sell himself. McDonnell continues to woo Redskins fans.

The Washington Business Journal talks energy, and the Washington Post talks traffic.

A contender for Best Debate of the Year wrapped up on WTOP radio, where Mark Plotkin moments ago finished moderating a slugfest between Republican state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli and Democratic state Del. Steve Shannon, the two candidates for Virginia attorney general.

Cuccinelli came out of the starting blocks by hammering Shannon during his opening remarks for agreeing to only two debates. Ahem ... one wonders how much this matters to listeners, but we're grateful for the feisty and entertaining tone that the Republican's opening remarks set.

Shannon went after Cuccinelli for his "strict constructionist" philosophy of interpreting the Constitution and suggested that Cuccinelli would not uphold laws pertaining to abortion rights because he doesn't believe that Roe v. Wade is constitutional. Cuccinelli said that while it's true he would not defend unconstitutional laws, it wouldn't apply in cases where courts have already weighed in. Cuccinelli continued:

"You mean you would defend an unconstitutional law?" he asked. "...If a law isn't constitutional, your job isn't to violate what you believe is constitutional after a thorough review of the subject."

Host Mark Plotkin didn't have to do very much to keep the conversation going; at one point Plotkin said: "This has been such a precedent shattering event where the candidates say enough ugly things about each other that I don't even have to question them!"

Other points of interest:

Fri., Oct. 2, 2009
Happy Friday! Here's what's happening in politics across the Commonwealth today.

With a new push in Northern Virginia, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell and his friends at the Republican Governors Association are now airing twice as many ads than Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds, even counting ads run by the Virginia Education Association.

The Democratic Governors Association spent millions in the spring trying to tarnish McDonnell while the Dems were fighting it out before the June primary. Was that a mistake? Will Gov. Tim Kaine let his DNC be outspent by the RNC? Will President Obama let that happen? Talk to us Nov. 4.

At a forum attended by a who's who of Virginia politics, both Deeds and McDonnell endorsed awarding tens of thousands of new college degrees in future years. Neither said much about how they would pay for that.

We told you earlier that the Northern Virginia Technology Council endorsed Republican Bob McDonnell for governor. Now the group is also supporting Democrat Steve Shannon for attorney general.

NVTC, the largest council of technology companies in the nation, has about 1,000 member companies representing more than 200,000 employees and is considered one of the premier business groups in the region.

"As attorney general, Shannon will be a strong partner with the private sector to ensure we have the legal framework, critical infrastructure, and public policies in place to support Northern Virginia's status as a global technology center," said Dendy Young, TechPAC chairman and chairman and chief executive of McLean Capital LLC.

Two days ago, Shannon received the endorsement of the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, which also backs McDonnell.

Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association backed his Republican rival Ken Cuccinelli.

"Ken Cuccinelli has been a leader in the Virginia State Senate in defending our right to keep and bear arms,'' said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "He has been and will continue to be a champion of law-abiding gun owners, hunters and sportsmen."

The Democratic Attorneys General Association donated $225,000 to Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, which tracks campaign donations in the state.

The group gave Shannon $25,000 in May and an additional $50,000 in August. It is by far his largest contributor.

The latest donation came Wednesday, the final day of the one-month reporting period, when candidates are scrambling to raise every last cent.

As of Aug. 31, Shannon had a two-to-one financial advantage over Republican Ken Cuccinelli, who faced two Republicans to win his party's nomination. Shannon had $1.6 million compared with Cuccinelli's $750,000, according to VPAP.

Republican candidates Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli released their plans to improve mental health care in the state on a conference call today with reporters.

The proposal includes improving services for children, adolescents and veterans, allowing people who are receiving in-patient care to transfer to out-patient care with oversight, requiring that temporary detention orders be issued by 72 hours from detention to hearing, encouraging partnerships between schools and mental health providers, providing better care at jails and allowing trained law students to represent willing petitioners with behavioral health issues.

"Mental health care is a critically important issue that unfortunately often is overlooked,'" McDonnell said. "We must improve and expand community based mental health care."

Read the full plan here

Update: Democrats criticize McDonnell and Cuccinelli for supporting a trabsportation plan that they say will divert from the general fund for core services, which could include mental healthcare. "The Republican campaign strategy of smoke and mirrors continues," said Allison Jaslow, spokeswoman for the state Democratic party. "I imagine it will be difficult to improve the quality of mental health care in the state of Virginia, when Bob McDonnell actually plans to eliminate one of its dedicated sources of funding."

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

Election Day is exactly five weeks away. And it feels like it. The campaigns are in full swing -- working around the clock, rolling out policy plans, airing new TV ads.

Democrat Creigh Deeds heads back to a metro station this morning -- this time, to unveil an endorsement from former Republican Gov. Linwood Holton. (Didn't we already know Holton supported Deeds? After all, he's Gov. Tim Kaine's father-in-law and he's endorsed Democrats in most recent statewide elections, including Barack Obama).

Deeds debuted a TV ad yesterday featuring U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, arguably the most popular politician in the state.

Republican Bob McDonnell rolls out another policy -- on mental health -- this morning on a conference call with reporters.

McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling released the second part of their good government plan yesterday. McDonnell also raised $350,000 at a pair of fundraisers with
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Virginia Business magazine takes a look at how Deeds and McDonnell plan to create jobs and boost the economy. And as part of his voter series, Joel Rubin of Cox1Hampton Roads has posted new interviews with Deeds here and here, and McDonnell here and here.

Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for attorney general, released his first TV ad today, a week after his Democratic rival Steve Shannon released his first two ads.

Cuccinelli also released endorsements from 77 sheriffs, commonwealth's attorneys and other elected law enforcement officials from across the state at a news conference today in Richmond. Some commended him for calling on Gov. Tim Kaine (D) to convene a special session this summer to revise laws to conform to new standards set by the Supreme Court that live testimony is needed to introduce scientific reports in criminal trials.

"When justice was denied here in Virginia this summer, Ken Cuccinelli stepped up to the plate,'' Chesterfield Commonwealth's Attorney Billy Davenport said.

Meanwhile, Shannon announced the endorsements of 40 law enforcement and first response organizations and officials from across the state, including the Virginia Police Benevolent Association, the Fairfax Coalition of Police, the Virginia Professional Firefighters and others.

"I've known and respected Steve for a long time, as I've followed his career as a tough prosecutor, a strong advocate for children, and a steadfast supporter of law enforcement officers," said Beth Arthur, Arlington County Sheriff.

Shannon also picked up the support of the political arm of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, which has gone with Republicans in the past. In a press release, chamber officials talk about the difficult decision they had to make.

Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, debuted two television ads this week describing his plans to be tough on sexual predators if he's elected attorney general.

According to the most recent campaign finance reports, Shannon holds a more than two-to-one financial advantage over his opponent, Republican Ken Cuccinelli, with $1.6 million in the bank compared to Cuccinelli's $752,000. Shannon has decided to start spending it with a television ad buy in Hampton Roads, Richmond, Roanoke and the Abingdon/Bristol market, as well as a cable buy in Northern Virginia.

In the new ads, Shannon touts his background as a prosecutor and his role creating Virginia's AMBER Alert system. He promises to be tough on sexual predators, Internet criminals and gang leaders who recruit children. We all know that the attorney general's office is mostly about providing legal advice to state government and defending state laws in court. But according to the Shannon campaign, Internet crimes are one area where state code gives the attorney general authority to play a role in prosecutions.

Here are the ads, with the scripts below.

Script: When a child is abducted, the first few hours are the most important. It's why Steve Shannon and his wife brought the AMBER Alert to Virginia, to make every minute count. As a prosecutor Steve Shannon sent sexual predators, drunk drivers and child molesters to prison. As Attorney General, Steve Shannon will target internet predators and gang leaders that recruit children. As Attorney General, Steve Shannon will focus on keeping families safe.

Script: If you're trafficking in child pornography you should listen to what I am saying. We know who you are. Law enforcement has tracked child pornography to 19,357 specific computers across Virginia. I am Steve Shannon and when I am Attorney General we will use that information to track down exactly where you are. We will find you, and we will find those children and bring them to safety. Steve Shannon for Attorney General- A Prosecutor to Protect our Families.

The Republican State Leadership Committee, which calls itself the nation's largest caucus of GOP state leaders, donated $200,000 Wednesday to attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli.

The group has contributed $515,000 to Virginia candidates this election cycle, including more than $90,000 to the state Republican party.

"Ken Cuccinelli is a common-sense conservative who understands that a competitive Virginia, with state government officials who will keep tax and regulatory burdens low, will allow individuals and businesses to prosper," said Scott Ward, the group's president.

The RSLC is a national organization with more than 75,000 donors that works to elect Republicans to state legislatures as well as to the offices of attorney general, lieutenant governor and secretary of state.

Virginia changed its campaign finance reporting law after the RSLC gave Bob McDonnell more than $2 million in his 2005 race for attorney general against Creigh Deeds. At the time, the group did not have to reveal the source of its donations.

Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, went up on statewide TV today with a positive commercial, "Focused," that touts his background as a prosecutor and talks about what he would do as the state's top cop.

Shannon faces Republican Ken Cuccinelli, who has yet to go on air.

The most vocal critical of Republican Del. Phil Hamilton -- by far -- has been his Democratic House colleague Steve Shannon. Shannon, who is running for attorney general, was the first to call for Hamilton's resignation, is airing radio ads about him and talks about him frequently on the stump.

But yesterday Shannon attended a House Appropriations meeting, alongside Hamilton, and had a chance to publicly call into question whether Hamilton should continue to serve on the House's most powerful committee -- and he said nothing.

It was the first committee meeting since the release of emails showing that Hamilton worked to get a job with Old Dominion University while securing state money for the school. He is under federal investigation.

Democratic leaders who do not serve on appropriations -- Ward Armstrong and Ken Plum --sent out a statement calling for House Speaker Bill Howell to remove Hamilton from the committee.

But not a single Democrat said a word about Hamilton at the meeting. They even stood by while Hamilton, who serves as vice chairman, briefly presided over the meeting while the chairman stepped out of the room.

Updated: Shannon's campaign responds. "A committee hearing is not the appropriate place to raise allegations against another member, no matter how serious or well-founded they may be. Del. Shannon hopes that the Speaker will act on this matter before the committee's next hearing."

By the way, in case you were wondering, Shannon's opponent Ken Cuccinelli has called on Hamilton to be removed from the committee as well.

One of only two debates in the race for lieutenant governor this year has been canceled after campaigns for incumbent Republican Bill Bolling and challenger Democrat Jody Wagner could not agree over debate rules.

No shock here: The Wagner camp is blaming Bolling, the Bolling camp is blaming Wagner, and organizers with host group the Prince William 100 say both campaigns were very good to work with and that they think neither is to blame.

Here's what happened, according to Prince William 100 program chairwoman Michelle Trenum. The two campaigns agreed some time ago to participate in a debate this Thursday. Since then, there have been a variety of discussions and negotiations over the debate's format and rules. About a week or two ago, the Bolling campaign came forward to ask that the debate rules include what is known as a "no-use" agreement, which bars both campaigns from using video of the debate on their websites and in ads.

The Wagner campaign did not want a "no-use" clause. Negotiations broke down over the weekend and the two campaigns, first Wagner, then Bolling, put out press releases insisting the other was responsible for the demise of the debate. Says Trenum: "It's just one of those things. They could not resolve their differences."

State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for attorney general from Fairfax County, wins the Scary Music Award this week for a new Web ad he is circulating linking his Democratic opponent, Steve Shannon, to ACORN, the troubled liberal political action group.

In the ad, Cuccinelli slams Shannon for remaining silent about ACORN'S substantial troubles (including the embezzlement of nearly $1 million by a top officer as well as a video capturing two people posing as a prostitute and pimp receive counseling from ACORN workers that could help them evade federal tax laws).

The ad also hits Shannon for receiving money from the powerful Service Employees International Union, which also has given money to ACORN.

"SEIU, ACORN, Steve Shannon: A trio Virginia can't afford to put in power," the narrator says.

Shannon's campaign manager, Mike Henry, quickly put out an email to supporters making fun of Cuccinelli's ad and comparing it to a Saturday Night Live parody of political attack ads.

Is the Cuccinelli ad a stretch? You be the judge. View the ad here:

The Humane Society's legislative arm has endorsed Republican Robert F. McDonnell for governor and Democrat Steve Shannon for attorney general, and had some sharp words for Shannon's opponent, Republican Ken Cuccinelli.

The animal welfare organization praised McDonnell and Shannon for supporting stiff penalties against animal fighting. The group singled out McDonnell for special praise, in part because of his stand opposing so-called "crush videos," which depict scantily clad women killing kittens, puppies and other small animals, sometimes using their high heels.

"Bob McDonnell included a crackdown on animal fighting as part of his anti-crime agenda, and he understands that the way we treat animals is a reflection of our basic attitudes and values in society," said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, in the endorsement letter. "Virginians deserve a governor like Bob McDonnell who has demonstrated strong and consistent leadership in protecting animals from cruelty and abuse."

The group criticized Cuccinelli, however, saying the state senator "has often stood nearly alone in the Senate as an opponent of modest and mainstream animal protection reforms." For example, the group says, Cuccinelli was one of only two senators to vote against a stronger animal fighting law in 2007 and was one of only three to oppose restrictions on large-scale puppy mills a year later.

As you may recall, McDonnell was attorney general when two years ago, NFL quarterback Michael Vick was busted for a dogfighting operation outside of Newport News, where he lived at the time.

Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, was the first statewide candidate to call for Del. Phil Hamilton of Newport News to resign after e-mails showed he worked to get a job with Old Dominion University while securing state money for the school. He then aired ads on the topic.

And now today, he's back -- unveiling a plan to Virginia's government more transparent and accountable in the wake of the scandal.

"I was both shocked and outraged -- not only at Del. Hamilton's behavior but at the system that allowed this to occur,'' Shannon told reporters today. "This episode has left a stain of public corruption on the legislature and on one of our public universities."

Shannon hopes the Hamilton scandal can help, particularly since his Republican rival, Ken Cuccinelli, is the only statewide candidate not to call on Hamilton to step down, saying the voters should decide his fate. (Gov. Tim Kaine says the same thing.)

Shannon's policy proposal includes a five-point plan to reform conflict of interest laws, increase penalties for officials who violate them and encourage better public access to important information such as lobbyist and campaign finance disclosure forms.

Good morning, Virginia, here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

The campaign finance numbers are in, and they're big. R. Creigh Deeds, the Democrat running for governor, raked in a record $3.48 million in July and August, about a half million dollars more than Republican Robert F. McDonnell. But McDonnell, who didn't have a primary challenge, has more money in the bank, $5.8 million, compared with Deeds's nearly $4.4 million.

It's a good news, bad news day for Deeds. According to a recent poll of registered voters, McDonnell's lead has slimmed to five percentage points (the poll was conducted by live interviewers, which is critical to meeting the Post's standards). But the Democrat is facing questions about seemingly contradictory responses he gave two groups about collective bargaining.

Both men are in Richmond today at a forum sponsored by Virginia FREE. Sorry, you weren't invited.

Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican attorney general candidate, raised $617,382 from 2,196 donors in the two-month period ending Aug. 31, according to the campaign. Cuccinelli has $752,291 cash on hand.

Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee, raised more than $534,000. He has far more than Cuccinelli in the bank -- $1.6 million -- but that can largely be attributed to Shannon having no primary opponent.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

Republican Bob McDonnell will be a guest on Mark Plotkin's radio show on WTOP at 10 a.m. (listen live online here) while Democrat Creigh Deeds is taking a day off from public events.

Deeds and McDonnell spoke about business issues -- many of them federal -- in a candidate's forum yesterday in McLean.

Later, the GOP ticket -- McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and attorney general hopeful Ken Cuccinelli -- talked health care. No surprise that they're not fans of President Obama's plan, and instead introduced their own.

The ads are coming fast and furious these days. Deeds launched a new TV ad accusing McDonnell of supporting power rate hikes in Southwest and Southside. Meanwhile, the Republican Governors Association started airing TV and radio ads focusing on Deeds's past support of tax increases.

Former Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe gets back into the game by accusing McDonnell of stealing his energy slogan. (By the way, what was The Macker doing at the Palm with Billy Crystal and Pat Sajak?)

Gov. Tim Kaine sent out an email to supporters today on behalf of Steve Shannon, encouraging them to attend a fundraiser for the Democratic nominee for attorney general later this month.

Kaine, who also serves as his party's national chairman, sent the email out though his in-state political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward.

"The next Attorney General of Virginia will be charged with a great responsibility in upholding the highest ethical standards and keeping our families safe from crime,'' Kaine wrote. "For this reason, I am asking you to support my friend - Steve Shannon - for Attorney General of the Commonwealth."

Kaine will headline a fundraiser for Shannon at the Charlottesville home of former congressman L.F. Payne.

Former presidential hopeful Fred Thompson will headline a fundraiser next week for state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for attorney general.

The former Tennessee senator and his wife, Jeri, will host an event in Arlington next Wednesday with beer, barbecue, cigars and bluegrass band The Naked Mountain Boys.

Thompson already has helped gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell raise nearly $500,000 at a pair of fundraisers.

Thompson, who owns a house in McLean, played New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on the Emmy Award-winning NBC drama "Law & Order" and has appeared in more than 20 films, including "Days of Thunder" and "The Hunt for Red October."

Gov. Tim Kaine enjoyed his eighth stroll down the Buena Vista Labor Day parade route -- the unofficial starting line of the fall campaign trail -- despite some periodic heckling.

Enthusiastic Republicans taunted Kaine, who serves as his party's national chairman, for being a part-time governor and following in lockstep with his friend, President Obama. "Nothing but a Kool-Aid-drinking governor,'' one woman yelled to Kaine as she clutched a "McDonnell for Governor" sign.

Kaine didn't respond to the criticism. Instead, he ditched his state-issued SUV and walked along Magnolia Avenue, shaking hands and greeting local residents who needed no introduction. Occasionally, he climbed into the back of a pickup truck to play harmonica with local bluegrass band (and Creigh Deed supporters) Walker's Run.

(See a gallery of The Post's photos from the parade.)

But after the parade, even Bob McDonnell got into the act of ridiculing the governor for holding two jobs in his speech to a few hundred spectators at a park pavilion. McDonnell, still smarting from Kaine's harsh comments about him last week, said snidely "Governor, thanks for stopping back by in Virginia for just a little bit." (To be fair, Kaine has been around a little more lately.)

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R), who stepped aside so Bob McDonnell could run for governor and has been campaigning for re-election as McDonnell's running mate, dismissed the GOP candidate's thesis as a 20-year-old academic paper.

"A candidate with 18 years of public service in the House of Delegates and as attorney general should be judged by his record in office, not by a term paper he wrote as a college student,'' Bolling said. "Bob's record is clearly one of supporting women and families."

State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II of Fairfax County, the Republican nominee for attorney general, said that he had not read the thesis and that his initial reaction was that the Post's article had taken the quotes out of context, and merely wrote about it because it was written while McDonnell was at Regent University.

Bolling said the issue will not affect his race against Democrat Jody Wagner. Cuccinelli said he doesn't know if the thesis will impact his race, though he acknowledges that his campaign, in part, depends on McDonnell's success. "Creigh Deeds is desperate to change the subject,'' he said.

John Brownlee, who lost his bid for the Republican nomination for attorney general in May, has landed a job at mega-law firm Holland & Knight.

Brownlee, the former U.S. attorney in the western district of Virginia, was named a partner in the firm's white collar defense and government contracts practices. He will split his time between Northern Virginia and the District.

Brownlee and David Foster, former chairman of the Arlington County School Board, lost to state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II of Fairfax at the May GOP convention. Cuccinelli faces Del. Stephen D. Shannon in November.

Recently, we introduced you to On The Record , a regular feature here on the Virginia Politics blog -- a funny, outrageous or otherwise memorable quote from someone in the state's political world. Have a quote you want to share? E-mail me at kumaranita@washpost.com.

Now on to our latest installment:

"It used to be that the Republican plan was that you'd run in Northern Virginia and hope you didn't lose too badly. Now you have to run and you have to run strong up here or you will lose. It's why we've lost all these races in the past," Del. Dave Albo (R-Fairfax) said.

"For the Democrat, you need to win big. For the Republican, you have to hang in there and do respectfully and not get blown out. It's a critical battleground," Sen. J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen (D-Fairfax) said.

The pair of Fairfax legislators were speaking to my colleague Roz Helderman about the importance of their region -- home to 27 percent of Virginia voters and an increasingly liberal area. Several recent statewide Democrats owe their wins to Northern Virginia, which has turned the once-reliably Republican state into a contested battleground. Both Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell have been campaigning heavily in Northern Virginia, where a recent Washington Post poll shows the two men virtually tied.

What do you think about their quotes? Share your thoughts with us below.

We expected Democrats to call for GOP Del. Phillip A. Hamilton to resign in response to emails showing he sought a job at Old Dominion University while securing state money for the school. But now Republicans leaders are calling for his resignation too.

In extremely strong statements, gubernatorial hopeful Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Pat Mullins, chairman of the state GOP, all said tonight that Hamilton should resign.

"From what I have seen of published news accounts containing emails and admissions, it appears that Delegate Hamilton has violated the public trust,'' McDonnell said. "Based on this public information it would be in the best interests of his constituents for him to step down."

McDonnell and Mullins called for the resignation, but acknowedge that Hamilton has the right to defend himself in any investigations first if he chooses to do so.

Updated: Hamilton said in a statement late tonight that he was disappointed in the statements of the statewide candidates but "their collective opinions have not lessened my resolve to continue serving the people of the 93rd District."

"These gentlemen have cited the best interests of the people of the 93rd District as their
reason for calling on me to resign,'' he said. "Yet, it appears that only Governor Kaine and Senator Cuccinelli possess sufficient confidence in those voters to permit them the privilege of expressing their opinion at the ballot box. I share that view, have confidence in the fairness and judgment of the people I serve, and will continue to campaign for their support."

Read the full statements from Republican leaders and Hamlton below:

Happy Friday, here's what's happening in Virginia politics today.

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Creigh Deeds goes on the offensive, making an 11 a.m. speech in Northern Virginia, where some Democrats say they aren't fired up about his candidacy. He follows the address with his first television ad of the general election and immediately plunges back into rural Virginia with a weekend spin through Harrisonburg, Salem, Roanoke, Christiansburg, Bland, Tazewell and Bristol.

McDonnell, meanwhile, continues his RV tour of the state, making stops in Lynchburg, Appomattox and Harrisonburg today. At recent events he has sought to deflect Deeds' attacks on his record opposing abortion, accusing the state senator of being the one who is overly focused on the issue.

As uprisings go, this one had no scythes or pitchforks.

But a recent movement spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D) to persuade his party's leaders to roll back a tax provision in the healthcare overhaul may have been all the more effective without them.

Connolly, as head of the Democratic Party's freshmen class of congressmen, enlisted the support of 22 other members (including one non-freshman) to persuade House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to reconsider the cutoff for a surtax on wealthy households to help pay for the healthcare makeover.

The upstarts, many of whom were Democrats representing prosperous suburbs, also boarded a bus to the White House to plead their case with the president and his staff, attracting the notice of The Wall Street Journal, CBS, CNN and other national media outlets.

"It was not really an insurrection," Connolly demurred. "I wouldn't characterize it as an insurrection because the Speaker was really supportive to us. The next time around the thresholds were higher."

Gubernatorial candidates Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell held back-to-back news conferences in Richmond on Tuesday to announce endorsements, neither of them of the too terribly shocking variety.

McDonnell picked up the support of the political action committee of the Virginia Association of Realtors, the state's largest professional organization. The group represents 33,000 Realtors and, after interviewing both candidates,
backed McDonnell as more likely to promote home ownership.

The support from the right-leaning business group is not a surprise, although it was also not assured: The group also endorsed Democrat Steve Shannon on Tuesday for attorney general, along with Republican Bill Bolling for reelection as lieutenant governor.

Even less surprising was Deeds's announcement that he had received the backing of the legislative black caucus.

Not only is Republican delegate candidate Catherine Crabill not stepping aside, as requested by the state GOP last week, but local party leaders are redoubling their support for her campaign in the Northern Neck against Democrat Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr.

Crabill's campaign Monday announced that the top Republican in the 99th legislative district, R. Allen Webb, will chair a grassroots steering committee for her campaign.

The announcement came just a few days after state GOP leaders, including all three candidates for statewide office, formally denounced Crabill over her comments last month that her supporters might have to "resort to the bullet box" if not successful at the ballot box. State party chairman Pat Mullins called on her to abandon her run for office.

"I'm happy to answer the call to help Catherine Crabill as the Republican Party's 99th District nominee," Webb said in a press release, urging party members to rally around Crabill. "Local Republicans made their views known overwhelmingly at our district convention earlier this year, and I will do all that I can to help Catherine succeed."

In the end, it didn't matter that Creigh Deeds had performed surgery on farm animals.

The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation's PAC endorsed Bob McDonnell today over Deeds in the governor's race.

Both candidates spoke a couple of weeks ago in front of the state's farmers at a candidates forum. Deeds grew up on a farm (and performed surgery on animals), but the group selected McDonnell because of his record on property rights as a legislator and attorney general. "Protecting the rights of property owners has been and continues to be a priority issue for the Virginia Farm Bureau," said Wayne F. Pryor, VFBF president and chairman of the Virginia AgPAC board of trustees.

The decision wasn't a total surprise. The group endorsed McDonnell over Deeds in the attorney general's race in 2005.

The group did not split its ticket. It also endorsed Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli for attorney general, both Republicans.

Aug. 13, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

Democrat Creigh Deeds will continue his week-long push on abortion, access to birth control and other women's health issues at a news conference in Portsmouth. Later, he will tour a shellfish hatchery in Willis Wharf and then hitch a ride on a boat to help workers load clam seed.

Expect Republicans to continue to gleefully talk up Deeds comments yesterday during an online chat with the Richmond Times-Dispatch about raising taxes.

It already has been a long week for Deeds. Criticism (largely conservative, of course) of his abortion strategy and a Confederate flag flap quickly have been replaced by talk of a shake-up at his campaign.

Republican Bob McDonnell will spend the day on Wallops and Tangier islands off Virginia's Eastern Shore. (He'll temporarily ditch his RV for a helicopter). He'll tour the spaceport and talk up his grand plan to make it the top commercial spaceport in the country.

The trip comes a day after McDonnell released a lengthy proposal designed to curb crime in Virginia, including lifetime monitoring for sexual predators through GPS. Deeds may not like it, but McDonnell continues to talk about federal issues ("Are you running for Congress?") by touting a new study that shows the federal cap-and-trade bill would hurt Virginia workers and families.

Aug. 7, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

Lots of news coming out of Virginia. President Obama was here yesterday after all.

Obama tried to provide a boost to Creigh Deeds campaign, appearing before 1,500 cheering, sign-waving supporters at the McLean Hilton Tysons Corner. Obama talked up the Democratic nominee for governor, but used the opportunity to defend his own record too.

While Deeds was with Obama, Republican rival Bob McDonnell attended former Congresswoman Thelma Drake's annual party on the pier in Norfolk.

Deeds was endorsed by the Teamsters yesterday --- though he didn't tell anyone. Expect McDonnell and the Republicans to be more than willing to do it for him as they continued to attack him for being tied to big labor (and therefore anti-business).

Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for attorney general, sure does like his property rights.

He's even willing to give up his cell phone to make the point.

Cuccinelli switched cell phone companies this week after learning that Verizon, his previous carrier, was supporting Democratic opponent Steve Shannon. Verizon and Cuccinelli have a history of disagreeing over how much power the company should have to lay cable across private property.

"They have always been strongly outspoken because of my position," Cuccinelli said. "They have to be respectful to everybody else in the process and that includes the property owner whose land they want to cross, and that's an inconvenience for them."

"People don't support me, I'm not going to support them."

Cuccinelli was speaking, incidentally, on his new Sprint telephone.

Mike Henry is back.

Henry, who has a long track record of winning races for Democrats in general elections in Virginia and is seen as one of the driving forces behind the party's recent successes in the state, has signed on to manage Steve Shannon's campaign for attorney general.

It's a major coup for Shannon.

Henry, of course, finds himself unexpectedly free after managing Terry McAuliffe's losing gubernatorial campaign. We hear he will start his new job Monday.

While Democrats spent their spring preoccupied with a grueling, three-way primary for governor, Republicans quietly started opening field offices around the state to get ready for the November election.

The so-called "victory" offices -- a joint venture of the Republican Party of Virginia and the Republican National Committee -- will number 20 by the end of this week.

So far, about 30 staffers have been hired to identify voters, promote the Republican ticket (three statewide offices and House of Delegates) and eventually work to get people to the polls in all corners of the state. In Northern Virginia, offices are located in Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun counties.

By comparison, Democrats -- who were waiting on a nominee for the top of the ticket -- have about five coordinated campaign offices in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Richmond.

The first debate between attorney general candidates Ken Cuccinelli and Steve Shannon is going forward as planned tomorrow, despite some squabbling between the campaigns about debate rules that had threatened to derail the event.

Shannon's camp had wanted Cuccinelli to agree to a "no use" clause that would prohibit both sides from using video of the event on their websites or in campaign ads. Cuccinelli's camp didn't want to make that kind of deal.

We're told the candidates themselves stepped in and hammered out the deal: Both sides can post the debate on their sites and use clips from the debate, provided whole answers are used. No 3-second snippets allowed.

What's the upshot? Both sides will video the debate and post it quickly on their websites tomorrow. Good news for those unable to make it down to the 9:45 a.m. event.

UPDATE: Roman Levit of the Shannon campaign has called in to say their side never objected to posting the debate online--only to the use of debate snippets in campaign ads.

The royal family of Virginia Democratic politics are busy this week crowning the man they hope is their heir apparent.

On Wednesday, newly anointed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds appeared with his former rivals and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine at a big unity event in Richmond. Today's he's with former governor and now Sen. Mark Warner in Arlington. And tomorrow brings a family conclave--Deeds, Kaine, Warner and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb in Williamsburg, along with Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Jody Wagner and attorney general nominee Steve Shannon.

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Terry McAuliffe raised $1.8 million in the two-month period ending last week. He has nearly $1.3 million cash on hand as he heads into the last week before next Tuesday's primary.

Brian Moran raised $844,000 in the same period and has $700,000 in the bank. Creigh Deeds, raised $676,326 and has $521,135 in the bank. 

Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell raised $3.7-million. He goes into the general election with $4.9 millon cash on hand.

Today is the deadline for candidates to report to the state how much money they raised in the two-month period ending last week. For Democrats, it will give us a good idea of how much money they have to spend on TV ads and-get-out-the-vote efforts as they head into the final week before next Tuesday's primary. For Republicans, it will tell us how much money they have going into the general election.

We will be providing you information as we get them from the candidates, so check back often as the day progresses. See other statewide candidates below:

For months, Democrats have been painting the GOP as "the party of no." Well, Republicans tried to turn the tables on their Democratic critics today with a whirlwind "Just Say Yes" tour of the state.

Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli -- who on Saturday won the GOP nomination for Attorney General -- touched down at Dulles International for a brief rally as part of the tour. In a private hangar at the airport, McDonnell rattled off a litany of policy positions ranging from education to energy, and led supporters in a chorus of, "Just say yes!"

"This is the positive, can-do, results-oriented, friendly, enthusiastic, conservative ticket that's going to support right to work and the rule of law, all the way to victory on Nov. 3," said McDonnell. "And we're going to be the party of yes to the reforms that we need."

UPDATE: The Democratic Party of Virginia released a statement late today by spokesman Jared Leopold calling the tour "a cynical attempt to mislead Virginians...Today's new advertising slogan is nothing more than shiny new packaging for the same failed product."

The state Republican convention will kick off shortly at the Richmond Coliseum (where people are not allowed to bring in bottled water, but they are allowed to bring in guns).

More than 10,000 delegates have gathered here for an event that seems a lot like a national political convention complete with colorful political signs, campaign literature covering seats, cardboard cutouts of Mitt Romney, campaign buttons that declare "No Bama."

Bob McDonnell, the former attorney general, will officially accept his party's nomination for governor this morning. Delegates will pick Republican candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general, and chose a new party chairman.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling faces Alexandria lawyer Patrick Muldoon. Former federal prosecutor John Brownlee, Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II of Fairfax and David M. Foster, former chairman of the Arlington County School Board, are running for attorney general. Pat Mullins, a longtime Fairfax County GOP leader tapped by the party's governing board to serve as interim state leader, faces Bill Stanley, the Franklin County party chairman.

We'll be offering occasionally updates as the day progresses. Check out the latest below:

Democratic AG candidate Steve Shannon's campaign manager just announced that Shannon's wife Abby gave birth to the couple's third child today.

Baby Owen was born at 8 pound, 5 ounces. Mom and baby are doing well and manager Roman Levit wrote in an email to supporters that Shannon his wife feel blessed by their new arrival.

Everyone knew national Republicans would invest heavily in former attorney general's Robert F. McDonnell's campaign for governor.

But now, they have even started getting involved in the attorney general's race.

Is it because every win is crucial to down-and-out Republicans hoping to turn their party around? Or is because the attorney general's office is always considered a stepping stone to a run for governor?

Whatever the reason, prepare for a slew of surrogates to swarm Virginia this spring.

Del. Stephen C. Shannon of Fairfax County officially became the Democratic nominee for attorney general yesterday when the state party certified him as the only Democrat filed to run.

"As a former prosecutor and a delegate, Steve has a long record of protecting Virginia families and fighting crime,'' said C. Richard Cranwell, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.. He'll make an excellent attorney general.

Shannon will face one of the three Republicans competing at next month's convention: John Brownlee, a former federal prosecutor; Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax); and David M. Foster, the former chairman of the Arlington County School Board.

All four men were at the 61st annual Shad Planking yesterday afternoon. Before the event, Brownlee received the endorsement of Jerry Kilgore, former attorney general and Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2005 who will serve as general chairman of Brownlee's campaign.

Mitt Romney, former presidential candidate and former governor of Massachusetts, will speak at the state Republican convention in May.

Romney will headline the Commonwealth Gala at the Richmond Downtown Marriott on May 29. Talk show host Sean Hannity will speak the next day at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

About 8,000 to 10,000 activists are expected to attend the convention.

Former state attorney general Robert F. McDonnell has already been certified the GOP nominee for governor. But delegates will chose their nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

David M. Foster, former chairman of the Arlington School Board, was endorsed by the mayor of the state's largest city, Virginia Beach's Will Sessoms, for the Republican nomination of attorney general.

"As mayor of Virginia Beach, I know that Dave Foster will be the attorney general we need to cut red tape, bring jobs to Virginia and help get the economy moving again," Sessoms said.

Foster faces John Brownlee, the former top prosecutor for Virginia's western district, and state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) at a Republican convention in May. Only one Democrat, Del. Stephen C. Shannon (D-Fairfax), has announced his intention to run.

"I'm elated that Will Sessoms is backing my candidacy," Foster said. "His endorsement is a significant breakthrough and sends a clear signal to Republicans dedicated to strengthening our party and achieving a solid victory for the entire GOP ticket next November."

Even by Virginia Republican standards, the battle over whether Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (Prince William) should be replaced as state party chairman is divisive and brutal, and the wounds it creates could have far-reaching consequences for the GOP in an election year.

Both sides in the dispute have crafted a strategy that revolves around the phrase "grass roots." Unfortunately for Virginia Republicans, there appears to be a huge disconnect over who makes up the grass roots.

And if a party doesn't know who its most loyal supporters are, can it really rebound from a string of election defeats? Or is this a case in which most party leaders know full well who their most loyal supporters are, but they don't like what they see?

With the three Democratic candidates for governor battling for their party's nomination, GOP candidate Robert F. McDonnell was in a posture that many statewide candidates can only dream about.

McDonnell is running unopposed for his party's nomination and has all spring to prepare for the general election as the Democrats attack one another. He also appeared to have the luxury of a unified conservative base that is relatively enthusiastic about his candidacy, leaving him the freedom to reach out to moderate swing voters who might decide the November election.

Despite all this, the McDonnell campaign apparently couldn't resist wading into an ugly, internal party battle over Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick's fitness to serve as chairman of the Virginia Republican Party.

McDonnell joined in efforts to oust the party leader. Frederick (Prince William) has vowed to fight for his job. The looming battle could set up the kind of split that McDonnell and GOP leaders worked so hard to avoid.