The two candidates in the hotly contested Democratic primary for governor are not just engaged in a battle with each other. They’re also waging a battle against themselves.
Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam is running for the Democratic nomination for Governor, but he voted for George W. Bush; twice. And his opponent former Congressman Tom Perriello voted to prohibit federally subsidized health plans from covering abortions. That’s put both candidates in the awkward position of trying to make their case to Democratic voters while simultaneously apologizing for the past. Robert Denton at Virginia Tech says Perriello has the more difficult argument to make.
“He has to explain that at the time I wasn’t countering my beliefs, attitudes or values related to abortion. But I was looking at my constituents in the Fifth Congressional District and therefore trying to represent them.”
But Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington disagrees. He says Northam is in a more perilous position.
“The anger that you see among Democrats really I think is going to create a sense that the votes for Bush were more problematic. Perriello may be better able to explain away the very conservative nature of his old congressional district.”
With the vote only weeks away, Democratic voters have until mid-June to make a determination.
