House Centrists Prevail In Va.

Money poured into the six GOP House primaries as each side in the tax battle sought to make a statement.

"The most significant thing is that the war between the moderates and the conservatives in the GOP has broken out into the open for all to see once again," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "It's the never-ended General Assembly of 2004 brought to the polls in 2005."

A group called the Virginia Conservative Action PAC raised more than $230,000 to defeat the delegates, including contributions of more than $60,000 in the last week. A competing group, called Leadership for Virginia, raised more than $1 million to defend the delegates and doled out more than $130,000.

In Prince William County, Joan Brown, 70, voted for Steve H. Chapman for delegate because she believes Parrish has held the 50th District seat too long. "It's time for him to go," she said.

Wilma Waldron, a retired teacher from Manassas, voted for Parrish out of loyalty to the longtime delegate, who has served in the House since 1982. "Well, I know him," she said. "I played bridge with him. The family's been here a long time. He has our best interests at heart."

In the 33rd House District, the campaign money fueled a spirited debate as Chris G. Oprison waged a relentless campaign against May, accusing him of being out of step with Loudoun County's voters on the issue of taxes.

In the 67th House District, which straddles Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Craddock successfully campaigned against Reese on such issues as taxes, abortion and same-sex marriage.

"I know [Reese] was one of the ones who voted to raise taxes. I thought that wasn't a good thing. We're Republicans -- that's not what we do," said 18-year-old Heather LeMunyon, a Craddock supporter, who was voting in her first election.

The Republican campaign for the governor's nomination was hardly a contest. Kilgore ignored Fitch, focusing on developing his campaign themes against Kaine. The GOP candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general had no such luxury.

Connaughton and Bolling waged costly and personal campaigns in the lieutenant governor's race, repeatedly accusing each other of lying or distorting the facts and misleading voters. The two clashed often on taxes, with both men claiming credit for cutting taxes more than the other.

The party's contest for attorney general, the state's top lawyer, was not much friendlier. McDonnell and Baril sought to distinguish themselves on issues such as homeland security, drug enforcement, criminal sentencing, police spending and even transportation funding.

But the contestants often strayed from criminal justice issues. Baril accused McDonnell of "laundering" campaign money through a political action committee. McDonnell repeatedly questioned Baril's lack of experience as a prosecutor.

Staff writers Michelle Boorstein, Chris L. Jenkins and Nikita Stewart contributed to this report.