2009.11.03
Analysis: Let the 2013 governor's race begin!
To heck with counting all the votes tonight. Let’s get on with the 2013 governor’s race. Why, in some ways, it’s already begun. After all, then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling cut a deal last year: McDonnell would run this year; Bolling would stand aside and McDonnell would support him in 2013.
So, does that mean Bolling is the guaranteed Republican candidate? Umm, maybe. Republicans do tend to believe in a hierarchy and Bolling’s now the top guy. But just because he and McDonnell made a deal doesn’t mean other Republicans did, as well. Ken Cuccinelli has said he’d like to stay as attorney general awhile -- to spend time taking on the federal government -- so Bolling probably doesn’t have to worry about him. But what about George Allen, the former governor and senator? He could conceivably make a comeback. If Bolling ever shows any weakness, well, I’m just saying, it’s not a done deal yet.
That said, Republicans are in a bazillion times better shape than the Democrats are. Just who are the likely Democratic candidates for governor in 2013?
The party has no bench.
In the past few days, I’ve asked people whom I trust about this and, well, mostly they scratch their heads. Would Brian Moran try again? Maybe. What about Terry McAuliffe? I’ve heard former. Del. Richard Cranwell of Vinton mentioned. Ditto the bowtie-wearing state Sen. Chap Petersen, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor four years ago.
The Democrats haven’t been in this sorry a shape since 1997 -- when Jim Gilmore defeated Don Beyer for governor and led a Republican sweep of the top three offices. Where did Democrats turn after that?
To Mark Warner, the multimillionaire from Northern Virginia who had never held elective office.
Is there another Mark Warner out there for Democrats -- some rich guy from Northern Virginia who decides to make governor his entry-level office?
Don’t know, but I bet there’s one type of candidate we won’t see again for a long time in Virginia.
I’ll tell you who that is in the next post.
-- Dwayne Yancey, senior editor
OTHER ELECTION ANALYSIS:
* Analysis: The most expensive governor's race ever
* Analysis: Where we'll be looking tonight
* Analysis: How many House seats will change hands tonight?
* Analysis: The biggest winning margin since . . .
* Analysis: The polls close; here's what's coming . . .
* Analysis: The saddest sight I've seen in politics
* Analysis: The first precinct reports in
* Analysis: An early return from Henrico County
* Analysis: A closer look at McDonnell's lead
* Analysis: McDonnell winning places that Democrats did four years ago
* Analysis: Henry County flips to McDonnell
* Analysis: Deeds running weaker in Northern Virginia
* Analysis: How Deeds did it -- a counter-factual look at McDonnell's victory
* Analysis: Three reasons why Obama hurt Deeds
* Analysis: Three reasons why Obama didn't matter
* Analysis: Are sweeps common or rare in Virginia?
* Analysis: Republicans take back the suburbs
* Analysis: Are primary winners destined to be November losers?
* Analysis: McDonnell may win biggest Republican victory ever
* Analysis: Should the Democrats blame their defeat on . . . Terry McAuliffe?
* Analysis: Did the Republicans win this race four years ago?
* Analysis: Should the Democrats blame . . . Phil Puckett?
* Analysis: Why didn't the thesis sink McDonnell?
* Analysis: Is winning re-election a bad career move?
We have complete results here.
