Three-Way Democratic Governor's Primary in 2009?

By: Lowell
Published On: 9/14/2008 7:19:21 AM

Increasingly, it's looking like a 3-way Democratic primary fight for governor of Virginia in 2009:

The Virginia Democratic State Central Committee voted yesterday to hold a primary next year to choose the party's candidate for governor amid growing indications that there could be a three-way fight for the nomination.

Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor, said yesterday that he plans to start a 30-locality tour of the state this month to campaign for Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Senate candidate Mark R. Warner. But the tour could also serve as a test of McAuliffe's appeal with the Democratic activists who play a crucial role in electing the party's nominee for governor.

The Washington Post quotes Del. Brian Moran and Sen. Creigh Deeds reacting to McAuliffe's likely entry into the governor's race:

"It doesn't matter," Moran said of McAuliffe's possible run. "I'm looking forward to running against the Republican nominee."

Deeds said: "I know what I have to do. It won't be any different if three people are in the race."

With all due respect to Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds, it matters a GREAT deal and will be VERY different with Terry McAuliffe in the race. For starters, McAuliffe lives in northern Virginia (McLean), which is ostensibly part of Brian Moran's territory. Second, McAuliffe could raise huge amounts of money from the fundraising network he built up as DNC chairman (not to mention national finance chairman for the Clinton-Gore reelection effort in 1996, finance director of the DCCC from 1985 to 1986, etc., etc.). Third, McAuliffe is a larger-than-life character, whose personality would almost certainly change the tone and dynamics of this race. Finally, would Governor Kaine - who the other day pronounced himself "intrigued" by a possible McAuliffe run - be any more likely to choose sides in a three-way Democratic gubernatorial primary than in a two-way. Stay tuned!

Speaking of McAuliffe, NLS reports that he and Brian Moran did a little "trash talking" yesterday at Mark Warner's "Pig Roast":

Terry: "It's hot out here"

Brian: "It's about to get a lot hotter."

Terry: Uncomfortable Laugh

I dunno, but something tells me there could be a lot more "uncomfortable laughter" before this is all over.

Comments



interested in comment by those who attended (teacherken - 9/14/2008 8:37:36 AM)
the Pig Roast.  This year I decided not to go.  I am exhausted from the start of school.  And I had a ton of tests to grade, and a batch of phone calls to make.  I decided I could not justify half a day for something political.  But I am interested in any on-site observations.


I'm not overly familiar with Terry other than the obvious recent past, (Jim White - 9/14/2008 9:21:07 AM)
but it would seem by his jumping in the governors race, we now have a glut of worthy candidates. I know both Brian and Creigh and I like and respect both of them immensely. I am still going to remain neutral until the primary. Like Ken, I am interested in hearing comments from attendees.


Buess I am in a minority (Teddy - 9/14/2008 11:36:13 AM)
when it comes to Democratic primaries loaded with excellent candidates for the same offices, especially when Republicans employ Karl Rove and his offspring to run their campaigns. I think such explosive primaries waste time and money, divide the party needlessly, and, during the primary fight provide crucial ammunition to the Rove-guided Republican candidates for use in the general election. I realize that Democrats sense blood in the water this election cycle, and every ambitious or well-placed Democrat figures this is going to be the best year in a long time for Democrats to win, so a line forms for each office up for grabs. I also realize that, coming as I did from a the Republican Party (when it turned into such a vicious bunch of lying authoritarian bastards I saw the light and converted) that I may not understand how the donkey party really works. Also, I used to figure that voters needed choices, and crowded primaries were the way to train the ambitious rising sophomores for the big time so you could develop a bench for future combat--- especially true when the party was in the minority. Therefore, at this time, I do not want to waste our substance in a potentially divisive, expensive in-house battle which can only end up diminishing the future usefulness of those who not win the primary.  Such a primary battle will only provide Republicans in the general election with an opportunity to drive wedges, mint nasty ads based on themes developed by the Democratic candidates against each other in the primary, and waste an unconscionable amount of time and energy. Can any of our Democratic grey eminences arrange for a sensible decision of which of our oustanding candidates will run for the offices in a sensible sequence? Now that we've got the deep bench, let's not waste it.


Sorry, it published itself (Teddy - 9/14/2008 11:39:12 AM)
while I was proofreading it, and I don't understand how it happened! That of course is "Guess" not "buess." See, this is exactly what I meant about not running all your top horses in the same race before their time (no proofreading, no editorial control).


Terry McAuliffe, future good ol' boy (Kindler - 9/14/2008 12:01:21 PM)
So nice of Terry M. to visit our state.  We'll be happy to stamp his passport for him.  

BTW, I'm taking bets on how long it'll take him to acquire a Southern accent.  3 months, 5 months, whaddaya say?



Actually, he's lived in McLean for (Lowell - 9/14/2008 12:09:59 PM)
many years.  Anyway, this whole issue of how long you've lived in Virginia seems a bit ridiculous to me. I mean, where did Mark Warner grow up (Indiana, Connecticut)? What about Tim Kaine (Missouri)?  Brian Moran (Massachusetts, moved to Virginia after college)?  Jon Bowerbank (England, New Jersey, California, Michigan, Texas, Louisiana)?  I just think this is a non-issue, unless the person decided a few months ago or something to move into Virginia in order to run for governor.


True Lowell (Jim White - 9/14/2008 3:04:44 PM)
how long you've lived in Va. is a non-issue. I am still concerned about the party saturation though.


That's not the question (Kindler - 9/14/2008 4:13:59 PM)
For many voters in the state, of course, it will matter if he is familiar with Virginia, beyond the comfy DC suburb of McLean.

But more to the point: Are there any examples of him getting involved in any Virginia political issues, before he decided to run for governor?



Not sure what the "comfy" word is for (Lowell - 9/14/2008 4:24:53 PM)
but it's a fair question to ask whether McAuliffe is "familiar with Virginia" and whether he's gotten "involved in any Virginia political issues" prior to running for governor.  I think he needs to answer those questions if he's going to be a serious candidate.


Terry's A Tad Brazen (Lee Diamond - 9/14/2008 6:55:44 PM)
I am with Kindler.  If McAuliffe runs, I'd be inclined to go with the other guy who pushes the  forward thinking energy/environment platform hardest.