Governor's race off to early start in Richmond

RICHMOND

Forget the 2008 presidential race. In Virginia, the land of plentiful elections, it's already passé.

The 2009 gubernatorial campaign debuted Tuesday as the three Democrats and sole Republican eyeing state government's top job took the stage together for the first time and tested jabs on taxes, transportation and their personal qualifications.

Two of the Democrats left the door open for tax increases to help the state meet its needs, though neither made an immediate call to raise levies.

"Everything should be on the table," said Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria. State Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County took a similar position. Moran's aide later said his candidate would consider raising taxes only for transportation.

Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who is exploring a gubernatorial bid, said this is a bad time for tax hikes. "You don't raise taxes in a down economy," he said.

Attorney General Bob McDonnell, who is unopposed for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, echoed the sentiment. "The worst thing you can do during a recession is try to tax yourself to prosperity," he said.

The four debated for about 90 minutes at the Associated Press Day at the Capitol, an annual daylong briefing for journalists on state government. Democrats will select their gubernatorial nominee in a June 9 primary. McDonnell is slated to be nominated at a GOP state convention.

Much of the debate focused on the economy. The General Assembly this winter faces at least a $2.5 billion shortfall in revenues needed to balance the $77 billion biennial state budget. Lawmakers, who are constitutionally required to keep the budget balanced, are expected to cut spending.

Given the financial problems, the candidates voiced little hope that the legislature would pass a significant plan to increase transportation funding in the next year. McAuliffe expressed hope that Congress would pass an emergency spending bill allowing Virginia and other states to invest billions of federal dollars in infrastructure.

McDonnell took credit for advancing a $1.3 billion transportation plan in 2007 that relied on regional taxes and fines of up to $3,000 on abusive drivers. Virginia's Supreme Court ruled that the method of imposing the regional taxes was unconstitutional, and the high fines, which drew public protests, were eventually repealed by the General Assembly.

McDonnell said his 2005 election as attorney general establishes him as the only gubernatorial candidate with a proven ability to win a statewide election. He billed himself as a problem solver, citing his previous 13-year record as a legislator in helping overhaul the state's welfare system and abolish parole.

Deeds and Moran, however, characterized McDonnell as a socially conservative ideologue, noting his opposition to abortion.

Deeds and Moran each described himself as a logical successor to the past two Democratic governors: incumbent Timothy M. Kaine and Mark Warner. They pledged to work for bipartisan solutions to state problems.

McAuliffe, who said he will decide whether to run for governor by Jan. 7, also touted his ability to work with both political parties, even though he was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005 and headed the presidential campaign of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton earlier this year.

 Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com