Gubernatorial Primary Candidates Have No Historical Roadmap To Follow As They Navigate The Commonwealth

National Journal
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
By Amy Walter

What can a rainy day with some bony fish in Wakefield, Va., tell you about the state of the Democrats in the Virginia governor's race? More than you would expect.

There was probably a time when the spring Shad Planking was the political event of the year. How candidates did among this southern Virginia crowd could tell you something about their chances in the fall campaign. Today, it feels pretty insignificant. The average age at this year's edition on April 15 was probably 60 (not counting the candidates' volunteers). There were few undecided voters there, and reporters almost outnumbered them.

And, most important, a muddy field in the middle of Sussex County in Southeast Virginia where beer's served up in cups adorned with a confederate flag isn't exactly the kind of venue where Virginia's suburban residents -- the true swing voters in the commonwealth -- or Democratic primary voters in general would feel at home.

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