YOU COULD practically hear elated Virginia Republicans doing backflips in their kitchens last spring when the Democrats picked Terry McAuliffe to run for governor — a candidate so flawed, so insubstantial, so unversed in state government and so tainted by decades of shady dealings that he would simply collapse in the heat of an election, handing the GOP a victory tied up with a red bow. “One good statewide ad campaign could define McAuliffe before this race even starts,” National Review Online wrote in April.
Who knew that Mr. McAuliffe, the most prolific campaign fundraiser of his generation, would have so much money or that he’d use some of it on negative advertising?
No fair! That’s the cry from some Republicans, especially tea party acolytes of the Kookster who lost narrowly Tuesday. In a spilt-milk snit, they are crying foul. A sulking Kookster has refused to make the traditional call to congratulate Mr. McAuliffe on his victory.
The Kokkster's record had nothing to do with job-creation or the state’s economic well-being or alleviating deepening transportation problems, all of which are central to Virginians’ well-being. It was mainly about bashing homosexuals, harassing illegal immigrants, crusading against abortion, denying climate change, flirting with birthers and opposing gun control. A hero to the tea party and a culture warrior of the first rank, the Kokkster lost because he was among the most polarizing and provocative figures in Richmond for a decade. That made him the wrong candidate for Virginia.
In a purple state, the Kookster captured the GOP nomination on the strength of support from like-minded stalwarts on the party’s fringe. Nominated in mid-May, he trailed in every poll after June. The battle for the middle ground, and for Virginia’s rich crop of swing voters, was decided early in Mr. McAuliffe’s favor. The Kookster, despite valiant efforts, could never escape his own record.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mr-cuccinelli-has-himself-to-blame-for-loss/2013/11/07/d8b8cc54-47da-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html