Virginia Tomorrow

1. Obama’s Numbers Down in Virginia

A new Public Policy Polling survey released this week showed approval for President Barack Obama’s  policies declining in Virginia, a development that the Deeds campaign will have to think through. On one hand, Obama can be a tremendous benefit to the Democratic nominee. His fundraising prowess will be crucial to countering the war chest that Bob McDonnell was able to amass as a a result of not having a primary challenger. Obama also does a better job of mobilizing the Democratic base than any political figure in America. At the same time, McDonnell is trying to hang every policy of the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress that may be unpopular in Virginia around Creigh Deeds’ neck. How Deeds can take advantage of Obama’s appeal without suffering any collateral damage from public dissatisfaction with national Democratic policy initiatives is becoming an increasingly important factor in the campaign.

2. Sarah Palin’s Available to Come to Virginia

But no one knows just how much of her Bob McDonnell would like to see. Palin energizes the GOP base, but her poll numbers with moderates and independents during the 2008 presidential race were abysmal. What’s a Republican candidate for Governor to do: Invite Palin and identify yourself with a tarnished national GOP brand? Or give her the brush off and risk antagonizing a number of your core supporters? Deeds will not be the only candidate in the campaign who will have to figure out what to with his political relatives on the national scene.

3. More Cuts

That’s what everyone said this week is coming in Virginia state government as revenues continue to fall below expectations. Governor Kaine has asked all state agencies to provide plans for additional cuts of 5%, 10%, and 15%. The impact that the general economic conditions will have on the November elections remains a genuine wild card. Will Democrats be rewarded for maintaining a state that still wins “best-management” and “most business friendly awards’? Or will widespread economic anxiety make voters receptive to changing the party in the statehouse?

4. Delegate Tim Hugo Calls on  Kaine To Resign (as Governor)

The debate about the Governor’s second job as Chair of the Democratic National Committee escalated. The Governor said that he spends about a day and half a week doing work for the DNC. But he noted that it does not deflect attention from his responsibilities in Virginia, as he is in constant contact with his staff, even when he is working in DC. Tim Hugo, a northern Virginia Republican delegate says that “Virginia deserves a full-time Governor” and called on Kaine to resign. I doubt that Hugo expects the Governor to accede to his request, but you can be certain that the GOP will work to keep the matter front and center through the entire election cycle this year.

5. Ghost Camps

For a lot of Virginians, the closing of 19 rest stops along the Interstates will be a very visible sign of the downturn in the state economy. And a number of folks are wondering whether it will have an impact on the perception of Virginia by out-of-staters traveling through. I am hoping that we can find a way to ensure that we don’t have a set of permanent “ghost camps” established on Virginia’s highways. The state is working with the private sector and groups such as the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association to come up with a better long term answer than closure. The sooner these can be reopened the better.

6. Their Names Are Sealed?

According to reports this week, the Virginia Supreme Court is considering a proposal that would keep the names of jurors anonymous in all criminal trials. Virginia recently passed legislation allowing this when judges are worried about juror intimidation and potential retaliation. There are conflicting opinions about whether this should be done on a blanket basis in all criminal trials. Some believe we need take the step to protect jurors and to encourage people to actually serve on juries. Others are concerned that blanket anonymity represents too drastic a change in the notion of a trial by a jury of your peers.

7. The Unofficial Lieutenant Governor of the Red Sox Nation

That’s what Bill Grogan, an independent running against Manoli Loupassi for the House of Delegates, called himself this week. Only in politics!  I do have one question. How does one become Governor of the Red Sox Nation because the chance to run for that office seems to be the only reason that anyone is willing to become Lieutenant Governor in Virginia. It’s about time that we gave some serious thought to updating the office and giving it a broader set of responsibilities.