Virginia Tomorrow

Slap!… Slap!

Maybe there will be a more negative editorial written about Bob McDonnell during the campaign.

Maybe a left-leaning editorial page will find a reason to rip him even more viciously.

But I don’t think so.

On Monday, the campaign announced the formation of Virginians for McDonnell indicating that moderate Republicans were returning to the fold.

McDonnell himself observed that he was striving to recreate the Reagan coalition in Virginia, uniting conservatives and moderates around a set of common themes and principles.

The Democrats immediately responded that McDonnell’s move to the center was a political makeover designed to disguise his true rightward leaning inclinations.

Yet less than 48 hours after the announcement , McDonnell finds himself slammed by a broadside from the right.

The precipitating incident was his interview with the editorial page staff of The Washington Times in which McDonnell calls for a rebranding of the GOP and a more ”happy, ” “friendly”, and  optimistic conservatism.

During his discussion with the editorial writers,  McDonnell apparently said that he had ”no plan” to raise taxes, but would not be signing a “No Tax” pledge either.

Put the happy and friendly on hold.

All H ..E..double hockey sticks breaks loose.

The W. Times reminds him that he “the Republican nominee for Governor. Usually it is the Democratic nominee that wants to keep is options open.”

The editorial describes him as “stammering”  and says this: “No plans to raise taxes.  That answer has too much wiggle room for us. The rest of McDonnell’s answer doesn’t make sense either.  The anti-tax increase pledge is a guaranteed vote getter. That’s why office-seekers sign it in every election. In what everyone expects will be a razor thin race, it is strange to give away a real advantage.”

But the editorial staff doesn’t stop here.

Dismayed by McDonnell’s response, it sends a videographer to ask him on his way out of the building why he hasn’t released a “tax cut” plan.

Sending a videographer after him?

I thought that’s what the opposition’s candidate does to you.

In any case, McDonnell’s response leaves the W. Times even less pleased than they were with his refusal to sign the pledge.

The editorial page posts the video, wryly notes that McDonnell admits his tax cut plan is “not ready for prime time,” and invites us to watch the GOP candidate “sputter and sway.”

In essence, they are saying there is no Reagan coalition without a plan to cut taxes.

Ouch!

What’s a Republican candidate to do?

One on hand, consultants and moderates tell you that Virginia elections are won in the middle,  stay too far right and NOVA blows all the way Democratic.

Remember what happened to Mark Earley in NOVA when he anounced that he would veto the referendum that would put additional transportation taxes before  the citizenry in NOVA and Hampton Roads.

But move too aggressively to the middle and you find yourself in a political no man’s land-

Denounced by Democrats as the Great Impostor.

Slapped! Slapped!

On both sides of the face by the right.

For Abandoning Principle.

To become Governor, McDonnell will have to fend off Democratic attacks and negotiate the treacherous waters of internal GOP politics.

Simultaneously.

I’ve always been extremely impressed by Bob McDonnell’s political skills.

He’ll need them all to win in November.