Kaine to stay neutral in Democrats battle for 2009 Governor

With three Democrats lining up to run for Virginia governor next fall, neither candidate should expect a holiday endorsement from the current occupant of the Executive Mansion.

“I’m going to be neutral in this race,“ Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a fellow Democrat, said yesterday, referring to Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe.

Kaine’s term expires in January 2010. Attorney General Bob McDonnell is the lone Republican candidate. The Democratic primary will be in June.