Moran, Deeds get N.Va. nods

Brian J. Moran and R. Creigh Deeds, rivals for the Democratic nomination for governor, are collecting fresh endorsements in vote-rich Northern Virginia.

A top strategist for Terry McAuliffe, who is readying to make it a three-way primary, said some Virginians are expressing "buyer's remorse" in backing McAuliffe's opponents.

Moran, a former delegate from Alexandria, returned yesterday to Arlington County, where he started in politics 20 years ago as a junior prosecutor, to pick up the backing of nearly a dozen elective officials.

Deeds, a state senator from rural Bath County, was endorsed yesterday by the state Senate's most powerful member, Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax.

Though the Democratic nomination won't be decided until June 9 in an open-to-all-voters primary, the contest is accelerating -- driven by McAuliffe's much-anticipated announcement today, next week's opening of the General Assembly and the selection of the departing governor, Timothy M. Kaine, for McAuliffe's old job: national Democratic chairman.

Moran, who quit the House of Delegates to run full-time for governor, is supported by members of the Arlington County Board and the School Board as well as current and former legislators from the heavily Democratic suburb of Washington.

They include County Board Chairwoman Barbara Favola, School Board Chairman Ed Fendley, Commonwealth's Attorney Dick Trodden and Dels. Robert H. Brink and Albert C. Eisenberg.

In a written statement, Moran described his Arlington allies as "true champions of progressive issues [who] know that Virginia needs to move in the right direction."

With Saslaw's endorsement, Deeds can potentially tap a network of donors and activists who were crucial to the Democratic take-back last year of the state Senate.

Deeds operative Peter Jackson said of Saslaw: "It's a big name. It's big money. It's a guy who commands respect in the business community."

Deeds previously was backed by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, head of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Mike Henry, McAuliffe's campaign manager, said that even though McAuliffe has yet to collect many endorsements, some voters who pledged early to Moran and Deeds said they're impressed with the newcomer. "There's a little bit of buyer's remorse out there," Henry said in a conference call with reporters.

With polls showing the Democratic contest wide-open and the candidates largely unknown, Henry promised a "really aggressive grass-roots campaign" that would "out-organize the opposition."
Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .