Virginia Governor-elect Bob McDonnell seems to have found a winning formula for unifying his party and delivering a clear message. During the campaign McDonnell focused on jobs, the economy, transportation and education while staying positive.
"We kept it overwhelmingly positive, giving people an uplifting alternative for the future," McDonnell told Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday."
"We, I think, tapped into some of the sentiment at the national level on the issues of card check, cap and trade, and some under-funded mandates and things like that that were not resonating well with Virginia businesses and families. And together with a lot of hard work, I think it was a winning strategy," he explained.
After beating Democrat Creigh Deeds in a landslide, 59% to 41%, his advice to Republicans in 2010: "Stick to your conservative principles but focus on the quality-of-life issues that the citizens are most concerned about, and focus on getting results."
McDonnell will likely face competing pressures from his party's social conservative base and moderates, but promised to govern the same way he campaigned. A top priority, he said, is to create jobs and restore economic prosperity to a recession-ravaged state.
"I ran very specifically on the fact that I'm going to make government work better. We're going to find ways to cut spending out of state agencies and retool government to find ways to keep taxes low, whether it's -- and when the economy returns, find ways to reduce the tax burden on working families, use tax cuts as a way to promote economic development."
On Saturday night's health care vote McDonnell said he is very concerned about what's in the bill.
"There are clearly great mandates on businesses, families and the states," McDonnell said. "With about a $1.2 trillion price tag, tax increases, $400 billion or so taken from Medicare, that it will ultimately increase costs and reduce choices for families," he added.
Finally, only days after his victory in Virginia, McDonnell has been floated for the short list of candidates for the Republican Vice Presidential nomination in 2012. He says he does not have national ambitions for 2012 and pledged to serve his full four-year term into 2014.
McDonnell's winning strategy:
-Run against Creigh Deeds
-Don't say anything more controversial than "People should have jobs"
-Ad strategy? Unedited clips of Deeds eating both of his feet for two solid minutes
To be fair, McDonnell did have the sense to stay out of the way while Deeds imploded. But this is not really a roadmap for GOP victories against an actual opponent or in a tough district
Confusion runs amok because we don't clearly recognize the difference between the Western World, and the Middle East (except for Israel). There is no concept of nationality in the M.E. Britain carved up these land plots and the people said so be it. They are still religious groups, tribes all with little heart-felt connection with their nation - nations created by others, not themselves. We cannot expect Western concepts to match M.E. ideas of nationality. This is the reality, like or not.
McDonnell's best strategy was to run as a Republican in an election when so many people are so anti-Democrat. Many people voted for the "R" not the name beside it.
Time will tell, hopefully the Republicans have learned some lessons and will not try so hard to be 'accepted' by the Democrats. We'd like to think that they have accepted the fact that they are the real party of the people.
Why should we wait until McDonnel accomplishes something to lavish praise. The commander in dithering has still not accomplished anything except unite his foes. He was a man with no accomplishments when he was elected, and he has continued in the same vein.
Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Chris-I love your direct questioning and the way you do your job, but i was a little upset this morning when you asked McDonnell to pledge he was going to finish his term as governor. Conservatives need good leaders and if he is one, then we may need him in the White House. Now, if in 2012 he is asked to run, he's going to look like a liar and the dems will show that clip over and over! Please don't put anymore conservatives on the spot like that:) LOVE YOUR SHOW!
WastingtonDC: Unfortunately, the 500 character limit offered by Fox is inadequate for any informed commentary, Look at Market Watch, and your other major competitors, where 5000 is the working limit, and many English language sites, non-US MSM, allow more. Wake up, and follow Murdoch's open archived commentary, to liven up the world's media.
Lets wait and let McDonnel accomplish something before we are getting hyped up about him being VP or P. He did not author any legislation that passed, and he resigned (quit) as VA Attorney General to run for Governor.
I am happy to have voted for McDonnell. However, we need to be careful with calling his win a "landslide". Creigh Deeds' primary win was a "fluke". Not even the VA Dems saw his win coming until a last minute controversy with a favored candidate put Deeds ahead. Deeds was a "dark horse" Dems could not fully support with gusto. If the dems had their favored candidate, I think there would have been a much closer race as he/she would have gained more support and better campaign strategists.
McDonnell is impressive. Did not like the "gotcha" question from Wallace. Really detracted from the interview, was uncalled for and beneath Chris Wallace. Too bad.
Chris,
why did you back Bob McDonnell into the corner and make
him say that he would not run for president? He might
turn out to be the man that we need in the white house.
Shame on you Chris Wallace. You lead Bob McDonnell down the old garden path when you MADE him pledge that he would not run for President if asked. You asked him to promise to stay in the governor office for the full four year term, and of course he agreed. You understand don't you that America is searching for a respectable and honorable person who is a conservative, and who will do what he promises. Why did you do that??
The Islamist terrorist who killed and wounded all those in
Fort Hood. Why should we be afraid of offending them?.
They are truly out to kill all Americans.
The people that he talked to there of his radical agenda should
have reported him to higher ups. He had not been in battle so the
statement that he snapped is ridiculous.
He has a good message that encompasses Republican conservative principles. After the success of 1994, Republicans shot themselves in the foot by gradually becoming Democrat-lite. In their anxiety to be liked by the media (which will never happen) and to be re-elected by doling out cash (our tax dollars) they mis-read the public. They better stop doing that if they want back in.
The strategy is to conserve. Obama thinks money grows on trees. The truth is that it is earned with hard honest work. The spread the wealth policy is just another word for stealing. Americans are waking up and it is time to get rid of the tax and spend Democrats.
If I ran my household like the government runs the Country, I would be living in tent city. Obama promised change. What he meant is that the only "CHANGE" you will see is the spare change you will be left with in your pocket.
"gotcha" question from Chris re staying in office for full 4 year term not appropriate for interviewer of Chris's stature. More like something one would see from the guy on Meet the Press.
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Peter
McDonnell's winning strategy: -Run against Creigh Deeds -Don't say anything more controversial than "People should have jobs" -Ad strategy? Unedited clips of Deeds eating both of his feet for two solid minutes To be fair, McDonnell did have the sense to stay out of the way while Deeds imploded. But this is not really a roadmap for GOP victories against an actual opponent or in a tough district
Ron
Confusion runs amok because we don't clearly recognize the difference between the Western World, and the Middle East (except for Israel). There is no concept of nationality in the M.E. Britain carved up these land plots and the people said so be it. They are still religious groups, tribes all with little heart-felt connection with their nation - nations created by others, not themselves. We cannot expect Western concepts to match M.E. ideas of nationality. This is the reality, like or not.
Jim N. Virginia
McDonnell's best strategy was to run as a Republican in an election when so many people are so anti-Democrat. Many people voted for the "R" not the name beside it.
toledofan
Time will tell, hopefully the Republicans have learned some lessons and will not try so hard to be 'accepted' by the Democrats. We'd like to think that they have accepted the fact that they are the real party of the people.
seanmahair
Why should we wait until McDonnel accomplishes something to lavish praise. The commander in dithering has still not accomplished anything except unite his foes. He was a man with no accomplishments when he was elected, and he has continued in the same vein. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Mari Mariano
Chris-I love your direct questioning and the way you do your job, but i was a little upset this morning when you asked McDonnell to pledge he was going to finish his term as governor. Conservatives need good leaders and if he is one, then we may need him in the White House. Now, if in 2012 he is asked to run, he's going to look like a liar and the dems will show that clip over and over! Please don't put anymore conservatives on the spot like that:) LOVE YOUR SHOW!
Franklin D. Lomax, Sr.
WastingtonDC: Unfortunately, the 500 character limit offered by Fox is inadequate for any informed commentary, Look at Market Watch, and your other major competitors, where 5000 is the working limit, and many English language sites, non-US MSM, allow more. Wake up, and follow Murdoch's open archived commentary, to liven up the world's media.
Jim Norlin
Lets wait and let McDonnel accomplish something before we are getting hyped up about him being VP or P. He did not author any legislation that passed, and he resigned (quit) as VA Attorney General to run for Governor.
timothydorf
McDonnell's win is a beacon to the rudderless leadership of the RNC.Now if they will only learn the lessons of his win. I doubt it.
independentinvirginia
I am happy to have voted for McDonnell. However, we need to be careful with calling his win a "landslide". Creigh Deeds' primary win was a "fluke". Not even the VA Dems saw his win coming until a last minute controversy with a favored candidate put Deeds ahead. Deeds was a "dark horse" Dems could not fully support with gusto. If the dems had their favored candidate, I think there would have been a much closer race as he/she would have gained more support and better campaign strategists.
Julie
McDonnell is impressive. Did not like the "gotcha" question from Wallace. Really detracted from the interview, was uncalled for and beneath Chris Wallace. Too bad.
Dorothy galicki
Chris, why did you back Bob McDonnell into the corner and make him say that he would not run for president? He might turn out to be the man that we need in the white house.
Frank e. Vincent
Shame on you Chris Wallace. You lead Bob McDonnell down the old garden path when you MADE him pledge that he would not run for President if asked. You asked him to promise to stay in the governor office for the full four year term, and of course he agreed. You understand don't you that America is searching for a respectable and honorable person who is a conservative, and who will do what he promises. Why did you do that??
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Vivian Harris
The Islamist terrorist who killed and wounded all those in Fort Hood. Why should we be afraid of offending them?. They are truly out to kill all Americans. The people that he talked to there of his radical agenda should have reported him to higher ups. He had not been in battle so the statement that he snapped is ridiculous.
N. Evans
He has a good message that encompasses Republican conservative principles. After the success of 1994, Republicans shot themselves in the foot by gradually becoming Democrat-lite. In their anxiety to be liked by the media (which will never happen) and to be re-elected by doling out cash (our tax dollars) they mis-read the public. They better stop doing that if they want back in.
Joe
The strategy is to conserve. Obama thinks money grows on trees. The truth is that it is earned with hard honest work. The spread the wealth policy is just another word for stealing. Americans are waking up and it is time to get rid of the tax and spend Democrats. If I ran my household like the government runs the Country, I would be living in tent city. Obama promised change. What he meant is that the only "CHANGE" you will see is the spare change you will be left with in your pocket.
John Nelson
"gotcha" question from Chris re staying in office for full 4 year term not appropriate for interviewer of Chris's stature. More like something one would see from the guy on Meet the Press.