Virginia Democrats face pivotal primary

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By Sarah Abruzzese

Virginians head to the polls Tuesday to select the Democratic nominee for governor, a pivotal choice in the party's quest to retain control of the governor's mansion, in a race that has inspired a trio of candidates to campaign feverishly up to election day.

Primary voters also will choose several nominees for the House of Delegates, races that in some districts could help the party wrest control of the House from Republicans in November, but the main draw continued to be the gubernatorial nomination.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds built further momentum on his late May turnaround and increased his lead in the polls over former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and former Delegate Brian J. Moran.

As of Sunday, Mr. Deeds had taken a commanding lead over the other two candidates, according to a poll by Public Policy Polling, a nonpartisan firm based in Raleigh, N.C. Mr. Deeds had 40 percent, followed by Mr. McAuliffe at 26 percent and Mr. Moran at 24 percent.

The central theme of the race has been whether two local candidates from different parts of the state can beat a well-heeled national figure with statewide name recognition. Polling figures have been back-and-forth, with Mr. Deeds surging in the past several weeks.

Over the weekend, the candidates unfolded their television blitzes. Mr. Deeds highlighted his experience and recent endorsement by The Washington Post, while the McAuliffe campaign stressed its candidate's ability to create jobs. They concentrated their spots in Northern Virginia. Mr. Moran did not run ads in Northern Virginia but focused in other areas of Virginia.

Even the eventual winner's Republican opponent in November, former State Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, ran television spots focusing on his promise to create jobs. He accepted his party's uncontested nomination at its convention last month.

On Monday, Mr. Deeds made stops in central Virginia, beginning the day in Danville and finishing with a rally at his campaign headquarters in Charlottesville. Mr. McAuliffe started the day in Norfolk, made a stop in Richmond and finished the day in Alexandria. Mr. Moran held an election rally in Alexandria.

For all of the candidates' campaigning, however, few voters were expected at the polls.

"There are so few people going to the polls that voter turnout could be critical going into the primary," said Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. With regard to House of Delegate seats, he said, the primary "may be it, if the other side has no candidate or a weak candidate."