Virginia Legal*Political Blog

The candidates for governor of Virginia aren’t shy about Twittering, Facebooking, texting and YouTubing their message to the cell phones, computers and PDAs of potential voters, reports the Washington Times.

Social media played a prominent role in the 2008 presidential election. And although it’s unknown how many voters actually cast their ballots due to Twitter updates and the like, candidates Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds don’t want to miss the opportunity to reach out to their supporters through these new media platforms.

To stay up to speed with these tech-savvy opponents, you can follow them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CreighDeeds and/or http://twitter.com/Bobmcdonnell.

Citing the need to attend to her consulting business, Del. Kristen J. Amundsen, D-Fairfax County, unexpectedly announced last week she will not run for another term.  Quickly stepping up to put a Democrat’s name on the ballot was County Democratic Chairman Scott Surovell, an experienced traffic attorney from Mount Vernon.

Surovell will face Republican James McConville and Glenda Parker of the Green Party.

Seven days into his campaign, Surovell faces a campaign finance reporting deadline today.

By Peter Vieth.

The Associated Press has declared Creigh Deeds the winner of the Democratic primary to nominate the party’s candidate for governor.  Deeds will square off against Republican Bob McDonnell in the November election.

Deeds, a state senator from Bath County, defeated former national party chair Terry McAuliffe and former delegate Brian Moran.

Jody Wagner won the primary vote to run for Lieutenant Governor.  Steve Shannon was uncontested as the party’s candidate for attorney general.

UPDATE:

Deeds did not just win, he nearly outpolled McAuliffe and Moran combined.

By Peter Vieth

The polls are open today and the battle for the gubernatorial nomination between Democrats R. Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe and Brian J. Moran will soon reach its conclusion.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that early morning voter turnout has been light in areas surrounding the state capital. Only 5 percent of registered Virginians are expected to cast their votes.

Voters will also choose the Democratic candidate in the race for lieutenant governor and settle House of Delegates nominations in 12 district primaries.

Virginia Republicans today nominated Sen. Ken Cuccinelli of Fairfax as their candidate for attorney general, turning aside bids by John Brownlee and David Foster.

Cuccinelli joins the 2009 ticket led by Bob McDonnell for governor and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who seeks re-election.

As reported by The Roanoke Times, Brownlee and Foster conceded before party leaders could announce the results of the first ballot vote for the attorney general nomination at the Republican convention at the Richmond Coliseum.

By Peter Vieth

GOP candidates are beating the bushes to get supporters to Richmond for the party convention May 30.

Republicans will choose their candidates at the convention, and nominations for attorney general and lieutenant governor depend on who shows up.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli is offering free bus rides to Richmond and has reserved a block of hotel rooms at the Hilton Garden Hotel, in hopes to encourage more delegates to travel.

Turnout may be limited for the June 9 primary to choose who carries the Democratic banner in the fall election for governor.

Only a fraction of the state’s roughly 5 million voters are expected to vote in the race between Terry McAuliffe, Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran.

But that hasn’t stopped the Democratic candidate hopefuls, who keep the battle going strong with numerous debates, television ads and e-mail press releases.

The Free Lance-Star has details.

Rocky Mount attorney Bill Stanley hopes to succeed Jeff Frederick at the helm of the Republican Party of Virginia.

Stanley, who heads the Franklin County GOP committee, said Wednesday that he will run for chairman at the party’s May 30 convention, reports The Roanoke Times.

He will compete for the remainder of Frederick’s four-year term against Pat Mullins, who was recently installed as the temporary chairman.

Former Roanoke city councilman Brian Wishneff has been hit with a $3,700 civil fine for allowing the use of a fake name in a newspaper ad attacking an opponent in his re-election campaign last May.

In addition to the penalty imposed by the State Board of Elections, Wishneff also faces criminal prosecution, reports The Roanoke Times.  A hearing is scheduled tomorrow on a motion to dismiss the misdemeanor charges, the paper said.

Those two happy warriors on the left played to modest crowds in Richmond and Roanoke today.

About 300 people turned out at Richmond’s Farmer’s Market this morning to hear former Pres. Bill Clinton tout his former campaign leader Terry McAuliffe’s bid for governor.  The number was more like 250 at Roanoke’s old Number One Fire Station at lunchtime.

The two campaigners told the crowds that energy and jobs will be critical issues in the coming campaign.

McAuliffe faces Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran in next month’s battle for the Democratic Primary.  The winner will vie for the governorship against Republican Bob McDonnell in the fall.

By Peter Vieth