Moran, McAuliffe land support in race for governor

Del. Brian J. Moran is poised to collect endorsements for governor from the highest echelons of the state Democratic Party, while presumed rival Terry McAuliffe is being backed by one of Virginia's biggest political check-writers.

Moran tomorrow is scheduled to announce the support of nearly two-thirds of the Democratic Party's steering committee. Made up of district chairs and other senior Democrats, the committee largely governs the state party.

Those backing Moran for the nomination include Suzette Matthews, Audrey Collins and Marjorie Clark, respective heads of the 1st, 4th and 7th congressional district committees, which include parts of the Richmond metropolitan area.

Two steering committee members are top advisers to the Moran campaign: Mame Reiley of Alexandria and Del. Lionell Spruill Sr. of Chesapeake, both state representatives to the Democratic National Committee.

"I've had the pleasure of working with these individuals over the course of my 20 years of public service," Moran said in a written statement.

Moran, of Alexandria, last week signaled to McAuliffe, a former Democratic national chairman from McLean, that he is prepared to fight for the crucial Northern Virginia vote. Moran announced endorsements from the majority of elective Democratic officials in Loudoun County.

McAuliffe, who recently formed an exploratory committee, today demonstrated support outside his suburban Washington base with the endorsement of billionaire pharmaceutical executive Randal J. Kirk of Radford.

Kirk is an independent who has backed candidates from both parties. But he has been particularly generous since 2001 with Democrats, pumping $300,000 into U.S. Sen.-elect Mark R. Warner's political-action committee and $650,000 into a PAC headed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

In a telephone interview today, Kirk said he favors McAuliffe for the nomination over Moran and Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County because of the former DNC chairman's high profile and business background.

Kirk, a fiscal adviser to Kaine, said that Virginia's political standing has been elevated by Kaine and Warner.

"I would hate to lose that," said Kirk, adding that McAuliffe could bring valuable national and international contacts to the governorship during this period of economic duress. Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .