ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brian J. Moran formally announced his Democratic bid for governor on Saturday, stressing issues involving the economy, education and the environment.
Mr. Moran, the former chairman of the House of Delegates’ Democratic Caucus, invoked the name of the man he hopes to succeed, Gov. Tim Kaine, and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, the popular former governor.
He said he would continue their Democratic principles of fighting for families and spending on public education.
“In these difficult times, Virginia needs a leader who fights for people each and every day,” Mr. Moran said in a statement he delivered at a supporters rally in Alexandria. “For 20 years, I’ve fought hard for the people of Virginia. I know we need a governor who cares more about the family dinner table than the corporate board room.”
Mr. Moran will square off in a June 9 primary against former Democratic national Chairman Terry McAuliffe and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds.
Republican Bob McDonnell, the former attorney general, is unopposed.
The three Democrats seeking their party’s nomination are outpacing previous gubernatorial races for cash raised so early, according to the most recent financial reports with the state. The race is expected to shatter the record of nearly $41 million set four years ago.
Mr. McAuliffe has tapped into the vast nationwide network of political donors he organized in decades spent raising tens of millions of dollars for the Democratic Party, President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
According to the latest round of reports, Mr. McAuliffe raised $4.2 million in the first three months of the year, more than five times Mr. Moran’s $800,000.
The most recent poll shows Mr. Moran with a very slight lead, though the three men are closely bunched, with almost half the electorate still undecided.
The Public Policy Polling survey of 740 likely Democratic primary voters, which was conducted March 27-29 and has an error margin of 3.6 percentage points, showed Mr. Moran leading with 22 percent support, Mr. McAuliffe at 18 percent and Mr. Deeds third with 15 percent.
Mr. Kaine, the current Democratic National Committee chairman, is barred by state law from seeking re-election.
In his formal announcement, Mr. Moran vowed to:
• Create renewable energy and green jobs, oppose offshore drilling and fight a proposed new coal plant in the Chesapeake Bay region.
• Provide health care to every Virginia child who needs it.
• Create an economic plan to expand small businesses and help entrepreneurs create better jobs.
• Support a “homeowners’ bill of rights” to protect people from foreclosures.
• Raise teachers’ salaries to the national average, cut class sizes and strengthen public schools.
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