McAuliffe apparent winner in Virginia

[Sandy]

News networks have just called the Virginia governor's race for Terry McAuliffe. He is the first governor to be elected who is a member of the same party as the sitting President in more than 20 years. And Virginia also elected a Democrat Lieutenant Governor as well.

[William Thornton]

The news here is how quickly and sharply his lead shrank from double digits to three points. Obamacare is good for something I suppose...something besides canceling insurance people are happy with and want to keep.

[Sandy]

[Dave Roberts]

McAuliffe's victory sits in two areas. First, Kuccinelli's support was largely from the Tea Party and those who would never vote for a Democrat. He alienated a lot of the middle and failed to energize his own base. McAuliffe was certainly a far from popular candidate who also did not energize his own base well. Voter turnout was poor except in areas that had other issues on the ballot like school bonds and meals-tax referenda. Second, Kuccinelli managed to stake out extreme positions and kept talking tax cuts when Virginia's roads are falling apart. He was also tainted by the financial scandals of the current governor in that he had taken contributions from the same firm that paid for the wedding of the governor's daughter and offered the governor's wife a sweet deal on $40,000 worth of stock. I don't think you can draw lots of conclusions based on this election.

[KeithE]

As Attorney General accepted at least $18,000 from a company that had sued the state- not smart and probably illegal. He fancies himself as "the commander-in-chief of the Religious Right's culture warriors” trying to out-outrage any contenders for that title. .

I’m glad he lost, but his showing demonstrates political, religious, scientific & especially sexual demagoguery still lives on in rural districts (an avowed “liberal" de Blasio won NYC Mayor). He is a in the Eric Hoffer sense. I’m sure he will try again elsewhere maybe West Virginia or maybe on a national level like another state loser Rick Santorum.

The Religious Right is neither religious or right, more akin the Pharisaism than Jesus.

[Sandy]