THE RACE IS ON

Gubernatorial candidates for the Democrat ticket stepped up the pace of their campaigns in the final days leading up to Tuesday’s primary.  
 
Brian Moran met with “Women for Moran” at Alexandria’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday June 5th and held a rally in Market Square midday on June 8th.

Approximately 100 women turned out for Friday’s event.  Moran spoke to the press beforehand, fielding questions over a range of issues with aplomb.  
 
Moran appeared confident of his momentum against tough challenger Terry McAuliffe and fellow Virginian Creigh Deeds.  
 
Moran pointed out that he is the only candidate who opposes offshore drilling in Virginia Beach, and also the only candidate who opposes the proposed coal-fired power plant in Surrey County, proximous to the Chesapeake Bay.
 
“Proponents of the plant say it will create 200 jobs," Moran said. "I say to them, we can create more jobs by investing in offshore windmills and green energy solutions for Virginia.”

Moran emphasized transportation solutions for Virginia such as rail and mass transit, particularly for Northern Virginia.   He supported Gov. Kaine’s transportation measures and promises that as governor he will continue the Warner and Kaine agendas on a range of issues.

On the economy, especially that of the depressed Hampton Roads region, Moran said he believes the port of Hampton can be maximized by adding rail to the area that will benefit the whole state economy and especially of that area.

On social issues, Moran said he is the only candidate calling for the repeal of the Marshall-Newman heterosexual “Defense of Marriage” amendment, which mandates that the legal definition of marriage in the Commonwealth of Virginia is between one man and one woman.  “When you discriminate against one of us, you discriminate against all of us,”  Moran said.

Additionally, as a Democrat, Moran supports the continuation of rights to access abortion procedures.  As an adult Moran chose to leave the Catholic faith with which he was raised, which disallows pro-choice politicians from receiving communion at Mass (voluntary excommunication).  
 
Instead, he worships at his wife’s Emmanuel Church in Northern Virginia and often at 5th Street Baptist Church in Richmond.

In spite of his direct involvement in and support of Alicia’s Law, which protects children from Internet predators, Moran said he is in support of restoring voting rights to convicted felons who have served their time. However, Moran is in favor of keeping guns out of the hands of convicted sex offenders.

Numerous Democrats from the Northern Virginia area attended the pre-primary events, including Alexandria’s Vice Mayor Del Pepper and State Senator Patsy Ticer in addition to several delegates from the area.  
 
When asked by the press why she chose to support Moran in his campaign, Sen. Ticer said, “He is our hometown boy.  He is smart and has very good legislative credentials.  He has the right ideas about trasportation and the environment.”  
 
Moran has been a member of Virginia’s legislature since 1995.  Ticer’s comments might be taken as a direct criticism of the qualifications of fellow Democrat competitor Terry McAuliffe, who is neither a legislator nor a Virginian and may be seen by some voters as a carpetbagger.  
 
Voters go to the polls in the Democrat gubernatorial primary on Tuesday from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. in what has become a very tight race.