Warner blasts GOP ticket as the ‘No’ camp

While three fellow Democrats slug it out for the gubernatorial nomination, Sen. Mark R. Warner is taking a swing at the newly minted Republican ticket, describing it as the "'No' camp that didn't move Virginia forward."

Warner, usually circumspect in picking partisan fights, blasted GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and attorney general hopeful Ken Cuccinelli for opposing a $1.4 billion tax increase that Warner, as governor, won in 2004 for schools, police and welfare.

Warner told Roanoke television station WSLS:

"When there were the hard decisions made when I was governor, where we had to forge the kind of bipartisan coalitions that earned Virginia recognition for being the best-managed state or the best state for business, unfortunately, the three gentlemen who serve -- who were put forward on the Republican ticket -- were not part of those bipartisan coalitions."

Tucker Martin, a McDonnell spokesman, fired back: "He is discussing the biggest tax increase in Virginia history. The members of this ticket disagreed with raising taxes on the people of Virginia, and said yes to keeping taxes low and government spending under control."

Martin added: "This ticket is not focused on refighting old battles."

The Democratic rivals for governor, depicting themselves as heirs to Warner and departing Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, yesterday fine-tuned television and radio appeals while using personal appearances to energize volunteers and voters.

Terry McAuliffe of McLean deflected attacks on his record as an investor-businessman with a fresh TV commercial downstate focusing on his top theme: jobs.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County posted commercials on broadcast and cable stations in the Washington market, targeting voters in Northern Virginia, which is the home base to Democratic candidate Brian J. Moran of Alexandria.

In his latest commercial, Deeds pledges to make transportation, a top issue in the Washington suburbs, a priority. It also mentions his support of abortion rights.

The ad depicts him as a moderate, and mentions his opposition to gun control.

McAuliffe and Deeds, in the finale to Tuesday's primary, are advertising in every market in the state, while Moran is concentrating his TV appeals in Richmond and Hampton Roads.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones recorded a new radio commercial for Moran that is largely directed at black voters.

The 60-second ad, running in Richmond, mentions Moran's support among leading black political figures.

Yesterday, Moran visited Fredericksburg, Winchester and Prince William and Loudoun counties, as well as Arlington County, a portion of which was in the House of Delegates district he vacated to run for governor.

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .

Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .