Senator Deeds Defeats McAuliffe in Virginia Governor’s Primary

The Democratic candidate has been selected for the Governor's race to be held this fall in Virginia, and State Senator Deeds has defeated former Hillary campaign manager Terry McAuliffe.

www.bloomberg.com

June 10 (Bloomberg) -- State Senator Creigh Deeds overcame Terry McAuliffe’s financial advantage and beat the former Democratic National Committee chairman to claim the party’s gubernatorial nomination in Virginia.

Deeds, 51, ran well ahead of McAuliffe, 52, and former state legislative leader Brian Moran, 49, in yesterday’s primary. Deeds won about 50 percent of the vote, McAuliffe about 26 percent and Moran about 24 percent, according to the Virginia State Board of Elections.

Deeds will face Virginia’s former attorney general, Republican Bob McDonnell, 54, in the November election. McDonnell, who was unopposed in his party’s primary, beat Deeds by a few hundred votes in 2005 in the statewide attorney general’s race. He resigned that post earlier this year to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.

Virginia was one of the key states that President Obama won in his election last November and this year's election along with the New Jersey Governor's race will be the first major elections that will be watched to gauge how the citizens are reacting to the new administration.

Me? I am just happy that Terry's candidacy is OVER.



ed:sp

[edit on 6/10/2009 by JacKatMtn]