FWIW, Virginia typically votes the opposite party of whomever is in the White House. We had Republican governors when Clinton was in office, and Democratic ones with Bush and Bush. So if we don't get yet another Democratic governor, that would be a remarkable story. Don't read anything into the results other than the fact that Virginians are a contrary lot with an independent streak.
That being said...
Here's something I saw in the USA Today a few minutes ago.
- USA TodayVoters in New Jersey and Virginia picked governors Tuesday after high-spending, mean-spirited campaigns that were closely watched by political analysts for signs of the public's mood ahead of next year's midterm elections. Elsewhere, New York and a few other major cities selected mayors.
{snip}
In Virginia, at least $42 million was spent in the contest between Republican Jerry Kilgore, the former state attorney general, and Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine. Democratic Gov. Mark Warner cannot seek a second term.
Voters also picked mayors in New York, Detroit, Houston, San Diego and Atlanta.
The vitriol in the gubernatorial campaigns left voters weary.
"You turn on the TV and there's nothing but negative ads on. I can see why people get frustrated with that," businessman Nick Russo said in Ridgewood, N.J. "It just turns you off."
A Forrester ad quoted Corzine's ex-wife as saying, "Jon did let his family down, and he'll probably let New Jersey down, too." A Corzine ad featured a paralyzed teenager complaining about Forrester's stance against stem cell research.
A Kilgore ad alleged that Kaine's opposition to the death penalty meant he would not have executed Hitler. Kaine cites his Roman Catholic beliefs for his opposition to capital punishment, but insisted he would carry out death sentences because they are the law.
{snip}
Wow...
Here are the facts.
1) A series of Kilgore ads are aired. In one ad, a father of a slain youth expresses how upset he would be if Kaine is elected and reverses the death penalty on the killer of his son. A second inteview shows the wife of a slain police officer pretty much saying the same thing. (The dialogue appears quite genuine, even though heavily edited for brevity and clarity of message). Then the announcer QUOTES Kaine as saying he would oppose the death penalty even if Adolph Hitler himself was on trial.
It is what it is.
2) Then a Kaine ad is aired on television, talking about the "mean-spirited" ads of the Kilgore campaign. They talk about how Kilgore invoked Adolph Hitler in an ad smearing Kaine.
3) Then a local newspaper pretty much quotes the second ad.
4) Then other newspapers follow suit.
Oye!!!
At the end of the day, check out your sources.
And VOTE. I did....but then you knew I would.
- Bill
P.S. And I aint' gonna tell you who. I'm one of those contrary, independent Virginians, you know...
--Thomas Jefferson: The Anas, 1792The catholic principle of republicanism is that every people may
establish what form of government they please and change it as
they please, the will of the nation being the only thing
essential.