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Governor McDonnell
Gov. McDonnell
We're getting to the end of the race. There are 12 days left until November 3 and the voters of Virginia will decide who the next governor will be.
The Times Community Editorial Board met with both candidates for a sit down session where reporters, editors and our president and publisher could ask questions face- to- face with Democratic candidate, R. Creigh Deeds and the Republican candidate Bob McDonnell.
It's one thing to see politicians on television or hear them on the radio. It's quite different to have them join you at a conference table where you can scrutinize their every gesture, the inflection of each word, the cut of their suit and their ability to maintain eye contact, remember the names of everyone in the room and the subtle nuances that make you want to like or distrust them. Something in the way they move speaks volumes. Do they command the room? Are they confident? Regardless of what they are saying, are they sincere? Do they have us in their hearts?
Both Deeds and McDonnell are family men. They are men of faith. They are both attorneys and they are both seasoned in the ways of how government works. They've both held public office.
Strategically they are both on the same page when it comes to discussions of transportation, jobs, education, health care, energy and taxes.
There's too much congestion.
There's no money for new road construction.
Maintenance funds are tapped.
We need high speed rail.
We need to create more jobs and keep our economy strong.
We need to hold onto our reputation as a state that is business friendly.
We need to support small businesses.
Education is of paramount importance.
We need to look after our senior citizens.
We need to be mindful of the environment.
The citizens of Virginia are overburdened with taxes.
And while going green is laudable, both candidates agreed in our meetings that cap-and-trade proposals by the federal government will not be good for Virginia and neither would support them. Until China and India get on the green bandwagon, which isn't likely anytime soon, the United States can ill afford to go it solo on being the global savior. Certainly Virginia, with unemployment rates soaring over 20 percent in some areas, cannot hamper the development of new businesses with tight regulations.
Tactically, the two have different approaches in how they would solve the state's challenges. While there is no question that transportation is at the top of both of their 'to do' lists, Deeds is most protective of the general fund as a place to look. He wants to set up a bipartisan committee to come up with a solution which could well mean more taxes. McDonnell, on the other hand, quickly pointed out that the general fund has been tapped for a variety of things – why shouldn't transportation needs be considered? It's not set in stone that education would suffer as a result. He'd issue bonds, sell the ABC stories to the private sector and take a percentage of sales tax collected in Northern Virginia and put it in a regional transportation account among other things. He's adamant about not raising taxes to fund transportation. His plan may not work but at least he has one.
All rhetoric aside, what most of us want are results. Tired of the talking, we want the candidate who will best walk the walk. Solving Virginia's problems may be mission impossible but, of the two, McDonnell seems to bring more firepower to the battle.
It's not just the message but the man behind it and in McDonnell's case, his verbal and non-verbal demeanor are deliberate. He's energizing, polarizing, positive and has an unmistakable can do attitude.
Both good guys. Both with ideas. But something about McDonnell smacks of a man on a mission with the goal of revitalizing Virginia and the leadership to make it happen.
Voters are often criticized for their lack of political savvy and unfamiliarity with the issues. They'll cast their vote for whimsical reasons rather than with strong conviction. In the end, what matters is who gets the most of those votes – whether they are cast because you like his smile or his stance on transportation.
In McDonnell's case, it doesn't matter, charisma or character, he has both.
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