Congratulations to Bob McDonnell and the Republican Ticket
The election is over. Bob McDonnell won a resounding victory today in all corners of Virginia, including the majority of precincts in the 34th Senate District. Congratulations to Bob and his ticket-mates Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli. They worked hard, stayed on-message and ran a great campaign.
Having known all three of them from my years in the Assembly, I consider them friends and look forward to serving with them to benefit the people of Virginia.
For my friends in the Democratic party, including Creigh Deeds, Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon, it was a bitter defeat. There is no use denying it. The only solace I see are the hard-won victories of Scott Surovell and Mark Keam for the two open House seats in Fairfax County. That is about the only silver lining.
There are many things to discuss and learn from this Election but that will have to wait for another day. In the meantime, congrats again to Bob, Bill and Ken.
I have to tell you, I am shocked. Not that CD lost, but by the incredibly low turnout of the elections. The fact that BM won Both the county and the city floors me.
All along, I could not believe the tone of the campaign. Why did CD run essentially a "republican playbook" campaign? Why did the electorate, or at least the small part that voted, change so much? Why didn't we show up? Why did Sheila Johnson turn on her party?
The only solace is that there will be a special election to replace KC, His senate election was won by only the slimmest of margins. There must be special attention paid to this election.
I can hear the republican "Government Wrecking Balls" warming up. They will attempt to dismantle VA government. Hopefully, the Senate will protect us.
While we may have lost the war, Steve Shannon did win the City of Fairfax.
Chap for Governor 2014!
It is interesting to note that so many people consider our great win during the Presidential election as a sign that values and the disposition of the population in Virginia has radically changed instead of being a referendum on the country's trajectory under Bush.
None of the studies down by credible institutions have shown any significant change in the "hot button" issues that voters cast their votes on. Furthermore (Shannon's Race not included) Democrats lose when we do not clearly emphasize our values. These values need not always be the most liberal or progressive, but they must be emphasized.
We win by making connections within the community. We win by clearly stating our goals and how we hope to achieve them. We lost in the Gubernatorial race because we failed to do either. And like all failures at the top of the ticket, those failures reverberate throughout the entire ticket.
I am pleased with the results! However, I am not going to say
"oh look VA is turning the tide".
I wish people would STOP trying make everything along party lines.
McDonnel won b/c he ran a good campaign and focused on issues important to Virginians. Deeds, Ha, what a joke of a campaig. attack attack attack, no substance, no plan. Surely not good for a governor.
The other two especially Cucinelli won me on ISSUES! Shannon is not a friend of gun owners, Cucinelli is, so is Chap - they get my vote.
as for the numbers....well all the college kids stayed home this time b/c the new cool Obama wasnt running.