Many analysts believe Cuccinelli’s brand of conservatism fit more in politics 30 years ago than they do now. Others feel the first nail in the coffin was because of scandals involved with Virginia governor Bob McDonnell. The final blow was delivered by house republicans who are taking significant heat for the government shutting down and the brinksmanship over raising the debt ceiling.
One cannot overlook that women favor McAuliffe over Cuccinelli by nearly 20 points in addition to Cuccinelli’s other woes. It seems that a perfect storm has gathered to knock Cuccinelli out of the running. However, its over when its over and the final ballot has been counted. Until then, its anybody’s game.
McDonnell still has fairly high job approval/favorables in polling. I doubt his troubles have much to do with Cuccinelli’s performance, although I can readily imagine Cuccinelli partisans trying to spin it that way. To the extent Star Scientific is having a negative effect on the current campaign (and I don’t think it is having much of an effect), it is more likely because Cuccinelli was pocketing favors from Star also, albeit at a lower intake rate.
The real problem is that RPV long ago stopped being concerned about the governance of Virginia and instead transformed the Party into a club where a narrow stratum of the population could go to get its feet tickled by pols who learned to put them in a trance with meaningless buzzwords. The irony is that the Democrats have frequently refused to take advantage and have, at critical times, offered up completely inadequate candidates of their own (see, e.g., McAuliffe, Leslie Byrne). But when they put up anyone of even middling competence, there is no contest. This year, McAuliffe, who by rights should be completely non-competitive in this state, will waltz in, not because of his merits, but because Republicans were determined to let the Democrats walk away with the election.
I have found that in Virginia, (and probably at all levels) good folks often just aren’t good campaigners. Creigh Deeds comes to mind. Creigh Deeds has a lot of substance once he isn’t in campaign mode. I think what I might be saying is the person who dishes out the best BS often isn’t the best candidate for the job.
I was very impressed post election with Deeds. He and I had several exchanges over the UVA crisis involving Helen Dragas. I was impressed with his stance and his knowledge of the subject matter.
The gift of superfluous gab and photo op ‘smile for the camera’ just isn’t there at the state-wide level. Deeds has knowledge and integrity. Too bad his efforts weren’t successful. He was a far better candidate than McDonnell.
I like Leslie Byrne. I think she is probably more appealing to women than men. She is definitely a champ in the good ole broad network, I am happy to report. It might be fair to say that she is a champion of many of my issues which might be a reason I find her a more than adequate candidate.
Byrne came within a hair’s breadth (as I recall, just about 1%) of beating Bolling for LG in 2005. I have nothing against her personally. But she was about as well suited to statewide candidacy in Virginia as would have been Bella Abzug. But I use her to prove a point. There’s no way that election should have been within 10 points if we (I get more and more antsy about that particular personal pronoun) had nominated a strong opposing candidate. She could have only run that close to Bolling.
@Scout
Going forward the candidate, Democrat or Republican, who prevails will be the one who is perceived as most capable of effective and efficient management of government. Most people want better lives for themselves and their families and don’t care about ideological rhetoric. Republicans are in for a drubbing because of the government shutdown, the reasons Scout cites above, and other things. Maybe that’s a good thing. Taking some hits and losing some elections might cleanse the Party of those who think ideological crusades are more important than good governance. Some Republicans might think that Chris Christie thanking President Obama for Federal help after Hurricane Sandy and appearing together with him publicly was an anathema. The vast majority of people saw that cooperation as good government helping people in the midst of a tragedy, and putting partisanship and ideology aside. Why else is Christie unbeatable in a Democratic state like New Jersey, and Booker leads Lonegan by 15 points in the special senatorial election?
There will be a mess to clean up, but the Republicans can recover. Most people support the idea of small, efficient government that does what it needs to do and no more. They support private sector solutions whenever possible. They support keeping the good parts of Obamacare and fixing the rest, rather than chopping the whole thing with an axe or parroting talking points that it’s all great and denying sensible Republican criticisms that parts of it are in great need of repair. How many Republicans or Democrats who blindly oppose or support it in its entirely can discuss dispassionately the specific elements of Obamacare and, and the strengths and weaknesses of each?
In a nut shell, no one can.
Thanks, not Bernie, for the sane contribution to our discussion.
I would always vote for the person seeking common ground rather than a divider.
Can any of you confirm that this is, in fact, McAuliffe’s third run for Governor in the third state.
As far as I’m aware, Blue, this is his second run for governor in Virginia. He lost in a primary to Creigh Deeds in 2009. I don’t know what your reference is to “the third state”. I know Delaware calls itself “the First State” because of its early ratification of the Constitution. I’ve never heard Virginia referred to as the Third State.
I re-read blue’s comment and thought maybe the question was intended to be whether this run is the third of three tries in three different states for McAuliffe. As far as I know, he has not run for governor in any other state, and this is the second time he has tried in Virginia. I think he has been a Virginia resident for twenty + years. Sorry if I confused the query the first time.
Thanks, I thought it sounded goofy.
I assume I got it right the second time. Correct me, if that’s not the case.
“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep
the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous
to be led to safety) by menacing it with
an endless series of hobgoblins,
all of them imaginary.”
H.L. Mencken
Excellent and timely reference to the Sage of Baltimore, Mr. Randolph.
All I can say is…we deserve the government that we elect.
Cuccinelli is gonna get his butt kicked along with his tea-goober supporters.
I refuse to believe that Starry is an older adult… he/she has to be a 12 year old.
When the Republicans nominated Cuccinelli, were they hoping that they could somehow recind women’s right to vote? Because if not it was a senseless nomination.
Between calling 47% of Americans freeloaders, alienating much of 51% over tha abortion issue, and alienating black America with their pathology against Obama, the GOP is setting themselves up for great success in the future.
now now…John McCain wants us to remember that they have long memories. Yea, mine goes all the way back to Clinton and the endless attacks because he was alive.
McCain and “building a bridge to the past” … Romney telling America that 47% of us are freeloaders so the other 53% better stick together hard … it’s surreal.
And the best sense of direction this party has is … kill “Obamacare” before it becomes popular “like sugar”.
I wonder if Terry McAuliffe’s involvement in an insurance scam that preyed on the terminally ill will close the gender gap?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mcauliffe-among-investors-in-rhode-island-insurance-scam-that-preyed-on-dying-people/2013/10/10/b7d937e0-3127-11e3-89ae-16e186e117d8_story.html
That’s real old news. There are no allegations of misconduct regarding McAuliffe. Nice try. NO banana.
McAuliffe seems to be involved in an awful lot of cases with questionable business practices or outright fraud in which he had absolutely NO idea what was going on. At what point do you either not believe him, or decide he’s too stupid to be governor?
I really don’t think one has anything to worry about when the challenger is Cuccinelli. All you have to do is whisper Star Scientific and McAuliffe looks like Einstein.
Were you even thinking about voting for McAuliffe? Didn’t think so.