John A. Cox, a Hanover County trucking company owner, scored a narrow victory yesterday over prosecutor Rusty McGuire in the Republican primary for the House of Delegates’ 55th District. Jerry Burch of Mechanicsville finished third. In the battle for the Democratic nomination in Richmond’s 69th House District, School Board member Betsy Carr defeated businessman Carlos Brown and Antione Green.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds scored a come-from-behind victory in the Democratic gubernatorial primary yesterday, setting up a rematch with Republican nominee Bob McDonnell. Deeds and McDonnell clashed in the race for attorney general in 2005. McDonnell won by 360 votes in the closest general election in Virginia history. Terry McAuliffe finished second, far behind Deeds and narrowly ahead of Brian J. Moran.

Brief power outages in Northern Virginia and a report of a gunman in Virginia Beach added drama to yesterday’s statewide Democratic primary. Otherwise, the day was marked by low turnout and little suspense once the polls closed. Returns soon showed that state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds and Jody M. Wagner won runaway victories to become the Democratic nominees for governor and lieutenant governor.

Incumbent Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. last night declared victory over his challenger in the Democratic primary contest. Woody captured about 81 percent of the vote, receiving 10,905 votes compared with 2,459 votes for his challenger, Henrico County sheriff’s Maj. Antionette V. Irving, according to unofficial results from the Virginia State Board of Elections.

Incumbent Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. last night declared victory over his challenger in the Democratic primary contest. With 64 of 65 precincts reporting, Woody had gotten 10,642 votes compared with 2,408 votes for Henrico County sheriff’s Maj. Antionette V. Irving, according to unofficial results from the Virginia State Board of Elections.

John A. Cox, a Hanover County trucking company owner, scored a narrow victory yesterday over prosecutor Rusty McGuire in the Republican primary for the House of Delegates’ 55th District. Jerry Burch of Mechanicsville finished third. In the battle for the Democratic nomination in Richmond’s 69th House District, School Board member Betsy Carr defeated businessman Carlos Brown and Antione Green.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County is the Democratic nominee for governor, winning a runaway victory over former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria and Terry McAuliffe of McLean, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Polls close at 7 p.m. as voters make their choice in a hotly contested Democratic gubernatorial nomination contest.

Balloting is tomorrow in the state Democratic primary. Three are vying for the nomination to face Republican nominee Bob McDonnell.

Terry McAuliffe is training his guns on R. Creigh Deeds in the finale to tomorrow’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, saying Deeds’ pro-firearms stance makes him unelectable against Republican Bob McDonnell. Deeds, responding last night at a Richmond rally, said: “Terry McAuliffe’s just desperate. And it’s just sad.“ McAuliffe, in a phone interview yesterday after an appearance at a black church in Hampton Roads, also said Deeds is weak for the fall campaign because he has backed higher fuel taxes for transportation improvements.

The Democratic candidates for governor sprinted toward the tape yesterday, moving from radio appearances to get-out-the vote rallies and using automated phone calls and television ads to gain the attention of potential voters. Brian J. Moran, a former delegate from Alexandria, shook hands at a church picnic in Henrico County before visiting his Richmond campaign office to call undecided voters and thank volunteers buzzing in and out with yard signs and encouraging words.

On Tuesday, Democrats will pick their nominee for governor, ending a primary campaign distinctive, in part, for the candidates’ few clear distinctions on issues. State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean and former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria offer variations on a theme in their plans to boost the economy and education.

On Tuesday, Democrats will pick their nominee for governor, ending a primary campaign distinctive, in part, for the candidates’ few clear distinctions on issues.

Cox McGuire Burch Brown Carr Green Candidates in two primaries in the Richmond area are relying on tired feet and sore knuckles, rather than big media campaigns, to get the attention of voters in primary elections Tuesday. Because the 55th House of Delegates district is heavily Republican and the 69th is heavily Democratic, primary wins are considered tantamount to victory in the fall.

The time for pitching—platforms, position papers, jobs and education plans—is over. Now, it’s all about hitting the bases of support each candidate has to get out the vote. The three men seeking the Democratic nomination for governor will spend the next 72 hours swinging across the commonwealth to energize loyal supporters to go to the polls on Tuesday.