It’s almost like old times.
The Democrats in Congress are talking about and voting on liberal legislation.
And the Virginia GOP wants to know what Democrats in the Commonwealth think about it.
Bob McDonnell is keeping the pressure up.
Cap and Trade, Creigh.
Where do you stand?
Card Check….Creigh,
Are you supporting the unions?
And by the way, Creigh, what about those “conservative” Charter schools that the Liberal-in-Chief, excuse me, the President-in-Chief actually supports.
It’s an interesting strategy- a candidate hitting national issues hard to tarnish his opponent in a run for Governor.
While the state GOP chair Pat Mullins conducts a relentless assault on Tim Kaine for being a travelin’ man, implying that he’s abdicating his state role to serve as Partisan-in-Chief- for the party that’s proposing bringing card check and cap and trade.
Card Check, Cap and Trade- these appear to be good issues for the Virginia GOP.
Yet.
How much does Bob McDonnell really want to nationalize the campaign?
Virgnia Democrats would love to make the election into a referendum on the GOP brand.
Virginia Democrats will be happy to talk about the decision not to take federal stimulus dollars for state unemployment insurance benefits all fall.
And Virginia Democrats may want to ask why McDonnell why he got involved in the flap at Notre Dame about a honorary degree for President Obama.
Speaking of Obama, what Republican can the GOP bring into the state that will rival Obama’s stature?
To be sure, McDonnell will argue cap and trade and card check will cost consumers money and workers jobs in Virginia.
But will it do him much good to have Newt Gingrich leading the charge?
McDonnell’s major strengths are his legislative experience and accomplishments in Virgnia and the perception that he’s done a commendable job as Attorney General.
In fact, McDonnell’s favorables are far higher than his party’s.
He shouldn’t back away from his principles and how these might be applied- win or lose you should stand up for what you believe.
But he’ll have to fully convince the voters that he’ll put Virgina first.
And that helping his party recover is clearly subordinate to helping Virginians recover from the economic downturn.
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