Moran emphasizes Northern Virginia roots

Brian J. Moran is returning to his Northern Virginia home from a statewide swing, armed with endorsements he hopes slow gubernatorial rival Terry McAuliffe.

On Tuesday, Moran appears in Arlington County, where he began his political career as a prosecutor two decades ago. Moran expects to pick up the support of the majority of the county's elective officials.

Though Moran is backed by big-name Democrats across the state, he is emphasizing his Northern Virginia roots ahead of McAuliffe's kickoff Wednesday. McAuliffe, too, is based in Northern Virginia.

McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has assembled a campaign staff that draws heavily from those of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and U.S. Sen.-elect Mark R. Warner, D-Va.

In the run-up to the holidays, Moran was endorsed by most of the elective officials in Loudoun County, an outer suburb of Washington, D.C., which is becoming a Democratic bulwark.

Moran, who quit the House of Delegates to run for governor full time, also is supported by big-city mayors in Hampton Roads. Among them: the leaders of Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk and Portsmouth.

"Brian has statewide support because he has a record of statewide leadership," Moran senior strategist Mame Reiley said in a written statement.

"He is humbled that this many prominent Democrats have stepped forward early in this contested primary."

Moran, former chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, is the choice of House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong, D-Henry; former U.S. Rep. L.F. Payne, D-5th, and Walter Tejada, former chairman of the Arlington County Board.

The third candidate for the gubernatorial nomination -- to be decided in an open-to-all voters primary June 9 -- is Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, who has collected several law enforcement and labor endorsements in Northern Virginia. Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .