by Mark Silva
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, friend of former President Bill Clinton and chairman of Hillary Clinton's failed campaign for president, sought the governor's office in Virginia in a party contest.
Tonight he lost.
Democrat Creigh Deeds won "with shocking ease'' a three-way contest for the Democratic Party's nomination today, the Associated Press reports.
The outcome paves the way for a rematch between Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell, who narrowly defeated Deeds in the state's 2005 attorney general election contest -- by 323 votes -- and stepped down to run for governor this year. He is the only Republican in the race, in a state whose last two governors have been Democratic.
Deeds, the only Democrat in the race not from the Washington, D.C., suburbs, "piled up surprisingly large margins across the state, including the northern Virginia region that rivals McAuliffe and Brian Moran call home,'' the AP reports. McAuliffe called Deeds at 8:06 pm EDT to concede the race and congratulate him.
McAuliffe's political connections as chief fundraiser for Bill Clinton and chairman of the DNC helped him raise a lot of money for this campaign. Deeds, with the least money in the race, had been forced to lay off some of his field staff so he could afford to run television ads in the final two weeks of the campaign.
In a state that voted Democratic last year for the first time since 1964 with its backing of President Barack Obama, Gov. Tim. Kaine, barred by term limits from seeking reelection, already is serving as the chairman of the DNC.
"I know from experience that Virginia is a place where Democrats have won--and will continue to win--because we take a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to politics and governing, instead of an ideological one,'' Kaine said tonight. "We're known for being problem-solvers and unifiers and we pursue policies that work for Virginia families.
"Creigh Deeds has always been able to bring people together, build consensus, and deliver results,'' the outgoing governor said. "That's exactly the approach that Virginians have supported over the past eight years, and I have no doubt that Creigh will work in a bipartisan way to keep building on the progress we've made.''
Comments
Excellent.
Worst Dem. leader ever. I still think he is responsible for both Gore's and Kerry's losses in 00 and 04.
Go away Terry; We hate your guts.
We don't want you 'round here no mo!!
Posted by: C.Morrisā | June 9, 2009 9:04 PM
Hmm. Have to agree, CM.
Terry was slick, slick, slick.
Just like BillyBob.
Clinton, that is.
Could it be that his association with Clinton made the difference?
Posted by: ornery | June 9, 2009 10:06 PM
...and progressives everywhere (well, almost everywhere) breath a collective sigh of relief. I can't stand the Clintons, never could. It makes me very sad to see so many of Billary's retainers still playing a role in our political culture. I sure wish Obama would stop stuffing his cabinet with them. It's true, I voted for them, but Clintons support for Nafta and Gatt had more to do with subsequent Democratic losses in congress and in subsequent presidential elections than any cleverness by the republicans. Te thing I'll say for them is that they were better than the alternative in the ir day, but consider the alternative in their day, and remember, their day is done.
Goodbye.
Posted by: Joshua Whalen | June 10, 2009 12:19 AM
The people are starting to wise up against Obama, his pals and his socialist agenda...I have to admit for once, I agree with C.Morris.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | June 10, 2009 1:20 AM
Third Swamp article on the Dem primary for governor of VA.
Versus zero Swamp articles on the primary for governor of NJ, a bigger state than VA.
Reason: The NJ primary was a Republican primary. And The Swamp (aka The Ministry of Truth) ain't interested in no stinkin' Republicans.
Posted by: Bruce | June 10, 2009 7:56 AM
The people are starting to wise up against Obama, his pals and his socialist agenda...I have to admit for once, I agree with C.Morris.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | June 10, 2009 1:20 AM
Rahm Emmanual will also be gone, or lose a lot of his credibility when the Blago tapes come out......
Posted by: Joe | June 10, 2009 8:45 AM
" And The Swamp (aka The Ministry of Truth) ain't interested in no stinkin' Republicans"
Is anybody?
Posted by: David | June 10, 2009 10:08 AM
Never been a big Terry McAuliffe anyway. I'm glad the good people of Virginia voted him out.
Good riddance.
Posted by: Chris R | June 10, 2009 12:46 PM
the race card was played against Terry by Moran according to Terry volunteers I know who have evidence (flyers and ads). at least Moran lost.
check out my Bill Clinton blog
http://adugan-billclintonblog.blogspot.com/
Posted by: adugan | June 10, 2009 1:20 PM
A shame that Terry lost. But at least so did the bot candidate Moran. At least Terry didn't say he wouldn't support the winner of the primary like Michelle did when asked if she would support Hillary if she won. Oh, and to the PINO Joshua...Obama supports NAFTA and GATT. And Obama knows the only competent people to run government are Clinton people. Cheeto eating Obama bots can't be trusted to actually do anything useful. Obama is just laughing at the PINO crowd that helped elect him.
Posted by: Bemused | June 10, 2009 2:48 PM
"At least Terry didn't say he wouldn't support the winner of the primary like Michelle did when asked if she would support Hillary if she won."
This from the bitterest, angriest PUMA on this board. What compete an utter hypocrisy.
Posted by: Lou | June 11, 2009 9:11 AM
I'm sorry. Please remind me:
What is a PUMA?
Posted by: ornery | June 11, 2009 5:11 PM
"Party Unity My Ass". It was the battle cry of the beyond the bitter end Hillary Clinton supporters.
Posted by: Lou | June 12, 2009 7:39 AM