(Cross-posted from Blue Commonwealth)
Last night I attended the election night victory party for Sharon Bulova, who was running to replace newly-elected US Congressman Gerry Connolly as Chairman of the Fairfax County (VA) Board of Supervisors. It was a tight and hotly contested race between Bulova and the odious Republican opponent, Pat Herrity.
As of this morning, Bulova has about a 1200 vote lead (PDF). I was on-hand in Fairfax to hear Bulova's victory speech, although the results are not yet considered official.
But this diary isn't really about Sharon Bulova, as great as she is. It's about the VA Governor's race and what I witnessed in the room last night.
((more))
The event started at 7pm. I had received an email from Todd Smyth earlier in the day encouraging me to attend the party, so I finished up work in Baltimore (I had meetings there yesterday), raced all the way back to Northern Virginia to cast my vote before the 7pm poll closing, and then headed out to the party.
It's always interesting to me to attend these things because I always feel a bit on the fringes. I'm not a member of the Party apparatus, at least not in my mind. I'm not a precinct captain or a chair of particular PAC or group within the Democratic Party of Virginia or any of its sub-groups. I always wind up introducing myself as an activist, a member of the Netroots, and a blogger. I'm always surprised when someone I meet recognizes things that I've written and knows my name - it doesn't happen often, but when it does, I'm always left blushing.
Todd and others who are active in the Democratic Party in Northern Virginia took me around and introduced me for the first half hour of the event. it was nicely put-together - there was food and a bar and tables, and they had sent up a computer and a projector so that we could all watch the returns from the election in real time.
In case you didn't know - the VA Governor's race is not only going to be hotly contested between the Democratic nominee and the Republican nominee (presumably current VA AG Bob McDonnell). It's also going to be hotly contested in the Democratic primary between Terry McAuliffe, Creigh Deeds, and Brian Moran. To ensure full disclosure, I've made no secret of how strongly I am against Terry McAuliffe. I have furthermore publicly advocated for Brian Moran, who is hands-down the most progressive of the Democrats seeking the nomination.
Well, Brian Moran was at the event last night. He arrived there (I'm told he returned from being in Richmond to lend his support to Bulova) about a half an hour after I did at about 7:30pm. The room was getting crowded at this point. I've been at several events throughout the Presidential election and after (fundraisers, etc.) where Brian Moran has attended as well, and I've had an opportunity to kind of take stock of him and his approach in these settings. He speaks to everyone. And more important than that - you can tell that he listens to what people are saying. He takes in questions and comments and considers them and then gives the questioner/commenter his full attention. I'm a big fan of people who listen more than or as much as they talk - so I've always felt that Brian Moran had a very solid, considered approach to talking to constituents, supporters, and opponents alike.
As I mentioned earlier, the Bulova/Herrity race was close. As a result, it took a pretty decent amount of time before it was clear that all the precincts had reported and that, although the results were unofficial, Sharon Bulova had prevailed. I'd say it was just slightly before 10pm - nearly 3 hours after the event started and good 2 1/2 hours after Brian Moran arrived - that we got the unofficial official announcement.
Anyone who has been to these types of election night parties knows that the candidate generally stays away until they are certain what type of address they will give - victory or gracious defeat. Last night was no different. Sharon Bulova was in the building but not at the general gathering until the results were as clear as they were going to be. At that time - shortly after 10pm - she came in and took the small stage with other Fairfax County supervisors and gave brief but victorious speech.
Now here's where the "tool" part comes in. Minutes before Bulova was to come in and make her speech, Terry McAuliffe swooped into the room, positioned himself near the stage, and started glad-handing with other local Democratic luminaries. Although I can't personally verify this, I was told that he had been outside of the room for a bit of time until he knew that Bulova would be giving a victory speech prior to making his grand entrance. Unlike Brian Moran, he appeared to come in for the "money shot". Unlike Brian Moran, he didn't sacrifice hours of his personal time to talk with - you know - voters and stuff.
What. A. Tool.
I so far from unbiased when it comes to the subject of McAuliffe that you have to take this diary for what it is - but I DO think it says something about McAuliffe and his motives in running for Virginia Governor. I'm sure he's a nice enough guy. I know that he has a sense of humor and that people have said that he's very charismatic, particularly in person - but that doesn't make him right to be the next Governor of Virginia. What struck me even more, upon reflection, is how unsurprising his whole "swooping" appearance was last night. As Hillary Clinton's finance guy and Mouthpiece-In-Chief during the Democratic Presidential primary, his modus operandi was much the same: Court the power structure, and overwhelm the competition with money and name recognition. We know how that worked out. I aim for it to work out the same way this time.
But Brian Moran can't do it without support. McAuliffe's money machine is impressive. But just like during the Democratic primary process - it's not definitive. The voices of individual people, rising up against the Democratic status quo and demanding a new approach and being willing to back that up provided the difference.
So I'm asking this community to come through again. Virginia's on its way to becoming solidly blue - we can't lose the Governor's office and I don't believe we can afford to fill it with an old-style Democrat, one who, to me, represents a giant step backwards in approach and methodology.
So can you spare a bit to donate to Brian Moran? It doesn't have to be much - as much as you can spare - but I will ask you to add $.09 to whatever donation you might choose to make. The last diary I did, linked above, had the same request - support in the form of funding with $.09 added. And it got noticed - I had one of Brian Moran's folks specifically speak to me last night and reference that last diary and the influx of $XX.09 donations that came in. Yay you, and yay us!
As I've been composing this diary, Todd Smyth has sent me an email on some recent polling numbers:
PPP Poll Feb 2, 2009:
Terry McAuliffe 18% (negative = 23%)
Brian Moran 18% (negative = 10%)
Creigh Deeds 11% (negative = 9%)
Source: Undecideds rule in Virginia
That's pretty interesting - because McAuliffe has gotten the lion's share of press coverage on his run (Wolf Blitzer actually did a little piece on an ad McAuliffe is running in Virginia without once mentioning the other two candidates), had more funding going in, and greater name recognition. Yet Brian Moran is staying right up there with him. Maybe that's because of what I witnessed last night. Maybe it's because of Brian Moran's progressive and bold energy proposals. Or maybe it's because of something like this:
T-Mac released two new radio ads today. One for Norfolk and one for Richmond. You can listen to them both on his website. The one airing in Norfolk ends with the tag line: "Not all good ideas come from Richmond", while the one airing in Richmond ends with "Bring new ideas and new energy to Richmond". These kinds of tactics are too "cute" for a campaign in 2009- and when Terry does dumb stuff like this, it really makes me nervous about his ability to run the kind of campaign needed to keep Bob McDonnell from becoming Governor this fall.
Again - What. A. Tool. And that post is emblematic of what I consider the old - and, most importantly - LOSING Democratic ways.
So help a Virginia or two (or ten or a thousand or a million) out - support Brian Moran for Governor of Virginia.
Update [2009-2-4 15:51:54 by RenaRF]: MAD PROPS to Scarce for posting this YouTube in the comments:
Let me tell you - I did a LOT of groundwork for Obama here in Virginia. And every time I would be at an event to get volunteers and get more people involved, Brian Moran was there to meet them and thank them. He's a class act.