Steven Latimer

Last night Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) won the Democratic nomination for Governor of Virginia. He will face Bob McDonnell in November. A few thoughts are in order.

I realize Deeds won his primary with about 50% of the vote in a three-way contest, which is mighty impressive. But I do not understand how he won. I know of no one who voted for Deeds, or said they would (perhaps there were some closeted Deeds supporters who can now come out of the woodwork?) I mean, I knew he could win, but I didn't think he could do it. I know of at least 4 people who definitely voted in the primary, and I'm pretty sure they voted for either Moran or McAuliffe.

Deeds has a reputation as a conservative, which makes this all the more interesting. But when he claimed victory last night at his party in Charlottesville, he sounded much more like a bitter liberal. Deeds said something along the lines of, "I will continue the Mark Warner-Tim Kaine legacy, while Bob McDonnell will take us back to the years of George W. Bush, blah, blah, blah ..."

There are more than a few problems with this. First of all, Bush is not the president anymore. He has been out of the Oval Office for several months now. It is not the 2008 campaign anymore. It's 2009. Secondly, it is not a good idea to compare yourself to Warner and Kaine. Deeds, too, quenches for taxation, and the voters are weary of liberals who campaign as conservatives and take up taxes like leftists. The Republican Party of Virginia has already issued a blistering press release assailing the ticket. (here)

Save his admirable position on guns, and in general being a good-ol' country boy from Bath County, Deeds showed little to admire last night.

Even if he were a real conservative, there would be little sense in conservatives voting for him (Deeds) in November: Bob McDonnell has had his party's nomination longer than Deeds has, and there would be little sense in swapping horses midstream.