Posted on 01/12/2010 8:46:38 PM PST by steve-b
Virginia's incoming governor Bob McDonnell (R) congratulated Virginia's newest senator Dave Marsden (D) tonight on his upset against Steve Hunt (R) in Fairfax County.
"I look forward to continuing to work with him in the years ahead in his new capacity,'' McDonnell said. "In these tough economic times, Virginians need leaders in Richmond who will work together to create new jobs and more opportunities. While we may not agree on every issue, I know that Dave and I share a commitment to making this a better Virginia for all our citizens."
Marsden will be sworn in tomorrow at noon when the General Assembly convenes its 60-day session. His victory leaves Democrats with a solid two-seat advantage in the Senate, 22-18.
Earlier, C. Richard Cranwell, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said the victory sends "a clear message: Virginians want moderate, bipartisan leadership that keeps our Commonwealth the best state to do business and the best state to raise a child."...
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
I’ll bet there was a group of voters who were angry that the woman lost the primary. There was also a group too lazy to come out in the cold and vote. I don’t know how many had this but I know a person who votes at the Navy school on West Ox and he could not find a poll there.
It is Fairfax County and very liberal. I am not suprised that Marsden won but I am suprised that it was this close. Cuccinelli only won last time by 100 votes.
When you paint a bulls-eye on yourself (unanimously censured by your colleagues on the school board, followed by losing a re-election attempt), this stuff happens.
All I can figure is that northern Virginia is a very liberal area with a lot of federal government employees. I live near this district, but not in it. I saw more (and bigger) Marsden signs out.
I'm guessing you don't know steve-b. He's our token liberal here.
This was always a close race. Marsden was already a sitting delegate. The WP makes this out to be a "stunning" victory, but the fact is that it comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with the voting demographics. McDonnell won Fairfax County with a little more than 50% of the vote. Bush lost Fairfax to Kerry in 2004 and Obama creamed McCain here.
The Dems needed a moral victory after being defeated in the Governor's race last year. There was another special election in VA Beach to fill a vacated Rep senate seat and the Rep won by over 70% of the vote. That is scarcely mentioned because it was "expected."
One third of the voters in VA live in No VA. It is becoming bluer and bluer due to more government employees, lobbyists, lawyers, etc. as the USG and Washington become the honey pot. Fairfax County is one of the five richest counties in America.
Thanks for the input, but McDonnell did win there and the political climate is favoring the GOP, so this should’ve been ours for the taking, bummer.
Simply not true. McDonnell barely won there with a little over 50% of the vote, yet he won the state with an 18% margin of victory. It would have been more of an upset if Hunt had won. Unless you understand the local conditions, you really have no basis for concluding that it was ours for the taking. Don’t buy the MSM and Dem spin on what a great victory this was.
Hate to give the moonbats hope........
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x123186
You also have to look at the fact that the Dems put their resources here and pretty much gave up on the Virginia Beach seat. Of course Marsden had to rent a room to declare himself a resident of the district.
My favorite headline from the blogs last night “Steve Hunt loses to Homeless Man”
Remember they had to put lots of resources and barely won a seat that they should have won by a larger margin. Fairfax County is represented by Jim Moron a morally repugnent a#$h&&le of the nth degree and many of the liberal who live there are just as bad as he is.
You can’t change reality. And this race was never portrayed as a referendum on Obama.
A victory in Moran’s district by a Democrat is hardly “stunning.”
The Post is desperate, and is spinning like a top.
The election was held to replace Attorney General Elect (and former Senator) Ken Cuccinelli, who is a very conservative Republican.
Absentees were the key. The GOP here needs to learn some campaign agility. McDonnell had it down and effectively parried Deeds’ attacks. Marsden put up TV commercials lying about Steve Hunt and they weren’t countered.
When the GOP knock on doors, the GOP needs to hand out Absentee Applications. Or our new Governor and Attorney General need to work to enforce the law on Absentee Balloting.
I don’t think any of Moran’s precincts are in the 37th state senate district. It is split between Frank Wolf (10) and the Unctuous Gerry Connolly (11).
Oh and also Marsden outspent Hunt 3 to 1. Marsden spent 600K to win this seat.
I heard he out spent Hunt by 3 to 1 margin. Maybe that was how it played out.
It wasn’t an upset. The Republican, AG-elect, who held the seat won the ONLY R seat in Northern VA in the last elections and that by all of 100 votes.
The really peculiar thing about this election, tho, is that there were more absentee ballots cast than in any precinct in the district, and it was 3:1 Dem. Typically, R’s do far better in absentee balloting. It has an ACORNish odor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.