Decision Virginia

Ryan Nobles - bio | email

Despite today being the last day of a long vacation for most, there were several politicos who made some noise, getting 2009 off to a running start.

L. Douglas Wilder is back to being a Distinguished Professor at VCU, but he is not done giving his opinion on the political world. Today he launched a new blog called ‘Wilder Visions” where he promises to continue to contribute. The former Mayor and Governor is still rumored to be up for a post somewhere in the Obama Administration.

Add another name to the lengthy list of Democrats hoping to run for statewide office. Richmond political strategist Rick Savage has decided to seek the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor. Savage has been behind the scenes working for people like Viola Baskerville. He feels he has a shot because the race is wide open.

Mayor Dwight Jones adds some important pieces to his newly forming administration.

And for the first time in history, The Richmond City Council will have a female President and Vice President. To see our Richmond Reporter Rachel DePompa’s story on the new, and very different council, click here.

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In a clear effort to show that he is not going to back down from Terry McAuliffe, Brian Moran today told WTOP radio that he thinks the candidates for Governor should only raise money within the Commonwealth.

Moran said that starting right now, through the primary, the three democratic candidates should collectively pledge to only accept donations from Virginia residents.

McAuliffe is the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a close friend and fund raiser of the Clinton Family. He has not officially announced his intentions to run, but all signs point to the prominent democratic diving into the fray. A report last week said that McAuliffe was ready to run and had committed to raising as much as $80 million to support his effort. McAuliffe’s camp has since refuted that claim.

Regardless of the specific amount, there is little doubt that once McAuliffe gets in that he will be ready to raise and spend a significant amount of cash. Far more than any candidate for Governor in Virginia has ever spent.

While McAuliffe is not well-known in the state, his pledge to raise funds and his deep connections to national democrats make him a formidable challenge for Moran and Creigh Deeds. There is a belief among some Democrats that McAuliffe is hoping that his many millions will force Moran and Deeds out of the race before the primary even takes place.

Hence the reason that today’s statement carries so much weight. By striking directly at McAuliffe’s greatest strength, Moran is showing that he is willing to take the heavyweight on, regardless of who he is connected to or how much money he can raise.

Read complete statements from both sides of the debate, including how the McAuliffe camp responded, by clicking here.

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