I contacted the Virginia Education Association, and they confirmed the rumors I'd been hearing, that they will NOT be making an endorsement in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. That's surprising, as I had fully expected them to go with the guy they knew, Brian Moran. But it's not just that they know Brian Moran. On his website, Moran touts himself as the "champion for education" (as opposed to every other politician?), the one who "joined Governor Warner and led the fight for the largest investment in education in Virginia history" (again, as opposed to every other Democrat, including Creigh Deeds, who "joined Governor Warner" on education and lots of other issues?). Moran also put out a 10-page education plan, in which he stresses his "personal commitment to public education" (as opposed to an "impersonal commitment?"). Meanwhile, over and over again throughout this campaign, Moran and his surrogates have touted his record on education, all but declaring himself the education candidate in the race.
Yet, in the end, the Virginia Education Association decided NOT to endorse in this year's Democratic gubernatorial primary. Sure, they'll spin this every which way, but that's still got to sting over at Moran HQ in Alexandria. It's got to sting even more when they read stuff like this:
...it was Terry McAuliffe who appeared to convert the hall [during last Thursday's Virginia Education Association debate at the Hampton convention center], earning sustained applause and bringing some delegates to their feet by tying each education-related question to his campaign's central theme: As a successful businessman, he knows how to create jobs.After all these years, Virginia's teachers are now invigorated and excited about Terry, not Brian? Ouch, now THAT is "personal."
So will all that acclaim translate into votes for McAuliffe?
Some teachers said after the debate that they think it will.
"Just like Mark Warner, I think you have to be out in the public with the people, working your bones off, to know what people need," said Jeanna Ellis, a special education teacher from Pittsylvania County. "I just know that when he finished speaking, you felt . . . "
"Invigorated," chimed in her Pittsylvania colleague, family and life sciences teacher Rita Gimbel.
"Yeah," Ellis said. "It made you want to stand up and say, 'Yes! You know what we need!' "
Veronica Gibson, a business education teacher from Henrico, said McAuliffe has probably earned her vote with his entrepreneurial flair.
"We have to work with business, find ways to use ties in the business world to improve education," she said.
