6/13/13 3:07 PM Va. Democratic ticket appears in Richmond - The Washington Post Page 1 of 4 http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/virginia-democratic…ichmond/2013/06/12/cf78335a-d36d-11e2-b05f-3ea3f0e7bb5a_story.html Virginia Democratic ticket appears together for Virginia Democratic ticket appears together for first time first time By Laura Vozzella, Published: June 12 E-mail the writer RICHMOND — Virginia Democrats’ newly minted statewide ticket appeared together for the first time Wednesday, with candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general portraying themselves as mainstream alternatives to the Republicans’ “tea party ticket.” State Sen. Ralph S. Northam (Norfolk), the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor, and state Sen. Mark R. Herring (Loudoun), its choice for attorney general, appeared on a Richmond theater stage with gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee. “Our party is as unified as it has ever been,” McAuliffe, who ran unopposed, told a crowd of about 125 people who gathered at the Hippodrome Theater. The event came one day after Democratic primary voters chose Northam and Herring over former U.S. chief technology officer Aneesh Chopra and former federal prosecutor Justin Fairfax. Chopra and Fairfax appeared onstage with the ticket and announced that they would serve as co- chairs of the party’s coordinated campaign. The scene was in stark contrast to what played out for Republicans last month when they assembled a statewide ticket that gave party insiders a jolt. At the party convention, Chesapeake minister E.W. Jackson beat a field of six better-known, better-funded candidates for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor. After that upset came a string of reports about controversial statements Jackson had made, including some condemning gays and linking yoga with Satan. Graphic Graphic Virginia primary election results More news about Va. politics More news about Va. politics GOP says senator urging probe of GOP says senator urging probe of Virginia AG has conflict Virginia AG has conflict Fredrick Kunkle 12:46 PM ET Virginia Republicans say Phillip P. Puckett has own conflict of interest in mineral rights case. Saslaw: McAuliffe should accept debate Saslaw: McAuliffe should accept debate rules rules Laura Vozzella 11:05 AM ET McAuliffe’s campaign co-chairman says he should stop resisting candidate-to-candidate format. In Va., legal fight erupts over drilling In Va., legal fight erupts over drilling money money Fredrick Kunkle 8:06 AM ET Complex dispute involves AG’s office, homeowners in coal country, out-of-state energy companies. News in 59 Seconds News in 59 Seconds The Post Most: Local The Post Most: Local Virginia Politics Justices: Human genes can’t be patented In the News D.C. storms Hashtags Edward Snowden Jason Leffler dies Rupert Murdoch Sign In SUBSCRIBE: Home Delivery Digital Jobs Real Estate Rentals Cars Today's Paper Discussions Going Out Guide Politics Politics Opinions Opinions Local Local Sports Sports National World Business Tech Lifestyle Entertainment Jobs More
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6/13/13 3:07 PMVa. Democratic ticket appears in Richmond - The Washington Post
Page 1 of 4http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/virginia-democratic…ichmond/2013/06/12/cf78335a-d36d-11e2-b05f-3ea3f0e7bb5a_story.html
Virginia Democratic ticket appears together forVirginia Democratic ticket appears together forfirst timefirst timeBy Laura Vozzella, Published: June 12 E-mail the writer
RICHMOND — Virginia Democrats’ newly minted statewide ticket appeared together forthe first time Wednesday, with candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorneygeneral portraying themselves as mainstream alternatives to the Republicans’ “tea partyticket.”
State Sen. Ralph S. Northam (Norfolk), the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor, andstate Sen. Mark R. Herring (Loudoun), its choice for attorney general, appeared on aRichmond theater stage with gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, a former chair of theDemocratic National Committee.
“Our party is as unified as it has ever been,”McAuliffe, who ran unopposed, told a crowdof about 125 people who gathered at theHippodrome Theater.
The event came one day after Democraticprimary voters chose Northam and Herringover former U.S. chief technology officerAneesh Chopra and former federalprosecutor Justin Fairfax. Chopra andFairfax appeared onstage with the ticket andannounced that they would serve as co-chairs of the party’s coordinated campaign.
The scene was in stark contrast to whatplayed out for Republicans last month whenthey assembled a statewide ticket that gaveparty insiders a jolt. At the partyconvention, Chesapeake minister E.W.Jackson beat a field of six better-known,better-funded candidates for the GOPnomination for lieutenant governor. Afterthat upset came a string of reports aboutcontroversial statements Jackson had made,including some condemning gays andlinking yoga with Satan.
GraphicGraphic
Virginia primary election results
More news about Va. politicsMore news about Va. politicsGOP says senator urging probe ofGOP says senator urging probe ofVirginia AG has conflictVirginia AG has conflictFredrick Kunkle 12:46 PM ETVirginia Republicans say Phillip P. Puckett has ownconflict of interest in mineral rights case.
Saslaw: McAuliffe should accept debateSaslaw: McAuliffe should accept debaterulesrulesLaura Vozzella 11:05 AM ETMcAuliffe’s campaign co-chairman says he should stopresisting candidate-to-candidate format.
In Va., legal fight erupts over drillingIn Va., legal fight erupts over drillingmoneymoneyFredrick Kunkle 8:06 AM ETComplex dispute involves AG’s office, homeowners incoal country, out-of-state energy companies.
News in 59 SecondsNews in 59 Seconds
The Post Most: LocalThe Post Most: Local
Virginia PoliticsJustices: Human genes can’tbe patented
In the News D.C. storms Hashtags Edward Snowden Jason Leffler dies Rupert Murdoch
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6/13/13 3:07 PMVa. Democratic ticket appears in Richmond - The Washington Post
Page 2 of 4http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/virginia-democratic…ichmond/2013/06/12/cf78335a-d36d-11e2-b05f-3ea3f0e7bb5a_story.html
Where Republican convention-goers chose afiery political outsider to run withgubernatorial nominee Ken Cuccinelli II andattorney general hopeful Mark D.Obenshain, Democrat primary voters pickedtwo well-known and relatively laid-backstate senators as McAuliffe’s running mates.
Northam and Herring could bring to theticket the heft of legislative experience —something that McAuliffe, who has neverheld elective office, lacks. Mild-mannereddeskmates in the Senate chamber, Northamand Herring are not expected to shake upthe race with the sort of rhetoric thatJackson has offered.
What remains to be seen is whether they can sufficiently stir the passions of the Democraticbase to get them to the polls in November. Political observers have wondered the sameabout McAuliffe, who finished second in the Democratic primary for governor four yearsago. Neither of his two running mates supported him in that bid.
The Republican ticket, meanwhile, has impassioned support among the GOP activists whotypically turn out in off-year elections. Cuccinelli, the current attorney general, hasendeared himself to the tea party with legal battles against the federal government.Obenshain, a state senator from Harrisonburg, has stood with Cuccinelli in those fights.
At the polls Tuesday, many primary voters said they could have been happy with any of theDemocrats who were running for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
“I could have flipped a coin,” David Karp, a 63-year-old lawyer, said after casting his ballotin suburban Richmond swing territory.
Some Democrats, while content with their ticket, were more passionate about defeating theRepublicans.
“I would rather have that stop sign than Cuccinelli as governor,” said Ryan Shannon, 27, aHenrico County lawyer, motioning to a sign in the parking lot at his polling place.
Democrats made it clear at their gathering Wednesday that they will try to link Cuccinelliand Obenshain to some of Jackson’s more controversial statements.
“We’ve heard a lot about the rhetoric,” said Herring, a lawyer who has been in the Senatesince 2006. “Well, Mark Obenshain votes like E.W. Jackson talks.”
Northam, a pediatric neurologist who has been in the Senate since 2008, said Republicans’positions on social issues threaten the state’s economic well-being.
“This state, in order to have business, in order to welcome people, we need to be allinclusive,” Northam said. “That starts with stopping the attack on women. Discriminationagainst the LGBT community needs to stop.”
Dave Rexrode, Cuccinelli’s campaign manager, said the Democratic ticket was the onebeholden to ideology.
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Ms. Mullins, I say to you, 140,000 Democratic enthusiasts sure beats 8,000 wing nuts.
ravensfan20008ravensfan20008 responds:
I don't disagree with you, but why does everyone on here miss the fact that Mullins is a MAN?
JohnnyYumaJohnnyYuma responds:
Probably @ravens because that is about the sum of what they know about VA politics ! There's no nutlike a left wingnut!
View all comments »View all comments »Add your comment | Reply to a comment | Recommend a comment | Report an offensive comment
“Whether it’s their support for ObamaCare and billions in tax hikes, hostility to Virginia coaland offshore oil exploration, or openness to altering the Commonwealth’s right-to-workstatus, there’s no question that the 2013 Democrat ticket will be among the most liberal inVirginia history,” he said in a statement. “If elected, all three candidates will seek to advanceideologically driven, Washington, DC policies that will only exacerbate the uncertainty feltby so many job creators across the Commonwealth.”
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