Local experts ponder possible shift
in state politics

Newly elected Governor Tim Kaine, center right, and his supporters, former Gov.Lynwood Holton, Kaine's father-in-law, left, Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, left center, and Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, right, at a rally on Nov. 7 in Richmond, Va.  AP Photo Archive

By John Allgood

Democrat Tim Kaine soundly defeated Jerry Kilgore in Tuesday's election despite predictions that this would be the closest governor's race in recent memory.

This is the first time in 16 years that Virginia will have back-to-back Democratic governors.

The race -- the most expensive in Virginia history -- has national implications, said Ham Smith, a Washington and Lee University professor and political analyst.

"This is, as much as anything, a backlash against Bush as much as an appreciation for what Warner did," he said.

On Tuesday afternoon, David Natkin, a member of the Rockbridge County Democratic Committee, said voter turnout was the most important issue in this election.

“Everyone knows that voter turnout is the key to every election, especially in ones this close,” Natkin said.

Smith said that in off-year elections, uncommitted voters actually do not turn out to the polls and candidates concentrate on rallying their parties 

"That's why vicious campaigning works," he said.  In this race, vicious campaigning included Kilgore's television advertisements about the death penalty, which Smith called "gut-wrenching, vicious things...people were appalled by them."

Gov. Warner, who could not succeed himself, is the big winner, Smith said.

"He can raise taxes and people don't get mad at him. In a Republican state, you've got a wildly popular moderate Democrat, perhaps electable as a Clinton."

Despite all of the partisan wrangling that has occurred in the campaigns, local Republican Jerry Nay said that election-day relations between the parties in Rockbridge County were much better Tuesday than in recent elections.

“Republicans and Democrats were talking and joking around,” Nay said.

Local delegate candidate R. David Cox watched his opponent Ben Cline take the race early in the evening, but took solace in Kaine's win. "“Though I’m not doing so well, Tim Kaine is doing much better," he said.

Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.

Lead supervisor:      Prof. Claudette Artwick

Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming

Editing supervisor:  Prof. Pamela Luecke

Technical supervisor:  Michael Todd