Robert McDonnell, Virginia’s former attorney general, formally accepted the Republican Party of Virginia’s nomination for governor Saturday in Richmond before a crowd of over 10,000 delegates.
McDonnell, who ran unopposed, stressed his emerging theme of bringing jobs to Virginia in his speech, hitting as well on the themes of transportation, education and land conservation.
He also countered Democrats’ recent characterization of the Republican Party as the party of “no.” It is the Democrats that deserve that moniker, he suggested, as he described his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check,” which would allow unions to be formed at workplaces if a majority of workers sign union authorization cards.
“When it comes to the job-killing card check bill which threatens Virginia’s Right to Work law, a cornerstone of our business success, our opponents will say no to protecting the secret ballot, and no to safeguarding Virginia’s Right to Work law,” he said.
McDonnell also hit on energy, a titanic issue both locally and nationally.
“I support exploring and drilling for oil and natural gas 50 miles off our coast,” he said. “Virginia can become the first state on the eastern seaboard to drill offshore.” He argued that it would create thousands of jobs, billions in investments, and millions in tax revenues for roads and research.
McDonnell will square off with one of three Democratic candidates in the November election — only one of two gubernatorial elections in the country in 2009.
National Republican figures are already steeling for the November battles in Virginia and New Jersey. Former Massachusetts governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigned for McDonnell last week and spoke at a GOP fundraiser Friday in Richmond.
Democrats have controlled the governor’s office in the Old Dominion since 2002, and Virginia went blue in last year’s presidential election for the first time in 44 years.
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, former Virginia Delegate Brian Moran, and Virginia state senator Creigh Deeds are gunning for the Democratic nomination.
The Democratic primary is June 9.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
