VIRGINIA'S TWO CONSERVATIVE PARTIES:

Deeds Surges to Stunning Win in Va.: Rural Legislator Is Democrats' Pick In Governor's Race (Anita Kumar, 6/10/09, Washington Post)

R. Creigh Deeds, a longtime state legislator from rural Bath County, won a stunning come-from-behind victory in the Democratic primary for Virginia governor last night, overwhelming a pair of better-funded and better-positioned opponents.

Deeds beat Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe in every region of the state, including vote-rich Northern Virginia, despite a pro-gun stance and relatively conservative positions that are out of line with many of the area's voters. [...]

Deeds, 51, will face Republican Robert F. McDonnell in a general election battle that amounts to a rematch of the race for attorney general four years ago, which McDonnell barely won after a late surge by Deeds.

If he were out of step he'd have lost.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 10, 2009 4:32 PM