McDonnell Wins GOP Nomination, Crowd Goes Wild
McDonnell trying to reinvent himself: McAuliffe
If Republican Bob McDonnell pulls off a win, it'll be the first time the GOP has had control of the Virginia governor's office since 2002.
Republican Bob McDonnell is now the GOP's official candidate for governor of Virginia.
Before a roaring crowd of more than 10,000 delegates, the uncontested conservative former attorney general accepted his party's charge Saturday and tacked toward the middle, focusing on jobs as unemployment climbs in a poor economy, the AP reported.
"To every Virginian who needs a job, to every small business owner trying to make payroll, to every retiree alarmed at losses in their retirement account, to every homeowner concerned about their home value, to every parent writing the next tuition check, to every clergyman struggling to keep a strong community," McDonnell said, "this campaign is for you."
(Why do we suddenly feel thirsty for a beer?)
McD's speech was a direct hit against the jobs issue that the three Democratic rivals for governor -- State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry R. McAuliffe and former House of Delegates Democratic Caucus leader Brian J. Moran -- have been pounding for months.
He also sought to rebut the label Democrats have effectively applied to the GOP as "the party of 'no,"' the AP reported.
"On energy, our opponents will say no to offshore drilling, no to clean coal, no to nuclear and no to new jobs and investment that comes with it. When it comes to promoting energy independence, they'll just say no, we'll just say yes," McDonnell said.
McA, wasting no time on commenting on McD's nomination, congratulated his would-be rival -- and then promptly tore him down.
"I'm proud of my experience and my record, but this weekend, Bob McDonnell, surrounded by Mitt Romney, Sean Hannity, and other Republicans, has tried to reinvent his," McA said in a press release. "They've all tried to hide his long divisive ideological record, and portray him as someone who now is a moderate."
More campaign rhetoric is sure to follow (before and after) the Democrats' primary on June 9.
Posted Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 8:48 PM EST
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