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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Shad Planking: Moran, McAuliffe and McDonnell woo voters in Wakefield

Daily Press
April 16, 2009
By Kimball Payne

Cloudy skies and the occasional drop did little to dampen the atmosphere at the 61st annual Shad Planking Wednesday as three gubernatorial candidates finished up speeches just before a wall of rain moved over Wakefield.

The rural, political festival is an annual rite of spring in Virginia, where candidates past, present and future glad hand with the partisan faithful and woo voters with free beer trucks, ham biscuits, bumper stickers and cigars. Former Republican governors Jim Gilmore and George Allen were both working the crowd Wednesday, along with state lawmakers and a handful folks running for Lt. governor and attorney general.

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McAuliffe in the crosshairs at Virginia's Shad Planking

CNN Political Ticker
April 15, 2009
From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby

WAKEFIELD, Virginia (CNN) – The crowds weren’t drinking tea on Tax Day in southeast Virginia.

At the Shad Planking — Virginia’s annual backwoods carnival of fish and politics — bourbon and beer were the cocktails of choice. And although the candidates for governor who showed up at this year’s event didn’t actually booze, they were definitely taking some shots.

Their main target, as expected, was Terry McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who decided last year to seek the governorship.

McAuliffe arrived at the Shad Planking making no apologies for the amount of money he’s spending in the 2009 race.

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