Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, the national Democratic Party chairman, and House Republican Whip Eric I. Cantor of Henrico County squared off on the "Today" show this morning over the impact of yesterday's elections that saw Republicans capture governorships here and in New Jersey.
Kaine said Democratic loser Sen. Creigh Deeds battled a historic trend -- Virginia has voted for governors from the opposite party of the White House since 1977 -- and wasn't able to build on his name recognition since narrowly losing to Bob McDonnell in the race for attorney general four years ago.
"Everyone knew that Creigh was the underdog in this race," Kaine said. "In the rematch he just couldn't improve upon where he was four years ago."
Cantor, meantime, said Virginians voted Republican because of their concern about the economy and the "one-way street" policies of the Obama administration and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which he called the "politics of attack."
"It was really about the policies the president was promoting," Cantor said. "People have clearly made a choice."
Kaine said one of the most important races yesterday was the special House election in a New York district where a Republican withdrew after opposition from conservatives, resulting in a Democratic upset in an area largely represented by the GOP since the Civil War.
"Eric and his colleagues put nearly $1 million in that race and got chased out by the right wing," Kaine said. He added that similar schisms between moderate and conservative Republicans are playing out in other states.
Cantor responded that the "Virginia model shows that when we're united as a party independents are attracted to our message."
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