Kilgore was just a weak campaigner and debater. I don't think it's that complicated.
The fact Bolling and McDonnell won-- the latter without an NRA endorsement-- makes it clear Kilgore wasn't rejected for being a Republican. He was rejected for being Jerry Kilgore.
Frankly, he was notably weaker than Earley-- though Kaine is likewise weaker than Warner.
Internal GOP conflict in VA probably hurt Kilgore, but was not at all a deciding factor.
McDonnel didn't exactly get a mandate. Bolling didn't exactly landslide.
True, which is why I used the term "won," i.e. a reference to the victor in the race, which for Lt Gov was Bolling, and for AG was McDonnell.
Secondary statewide races often follow the Governor's race; Kaine won because of Warner. In this case, voters clearly separated Kilgore from Bolling/McDonnell, even though the latter two are arguably more conservative.
Look at Virginia Beach, for instance. Kaine won it outright, a surprising feat, but Bolling and McDonnell won easily.
Like I said, the data seems fairly clear to me. I'm not sure WHY someone would vote for Bolling and McDonnell and Kaine, but they did, and in large numbers.
Uh, again McDonnell has not won yet, for Attorney General. With two more precincts to count the difference between him and Deeds is 1485 votes. And there is still the provisional ballots also to be counted.
And then very possibly is an automatic recount if it is and it looks like it will be a win of less than one percent of the total vote counted. So this AG race in Virginia is still very much in doubt.
And then a little may be an asking for another recount by Deeds.
