Moran Begins Campaigning

Democrat Kicks Off Race for Gubernatorial Nomination

Brian Moran officially kicked off his Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign in his Alexandria home town yesterday, telling supporters that his working-class roots and 20 years as a prosecutor and state legislator give him a deep understanding of Virginians' needs.

"We need a governor who cares more about the family dinner table than the corporate boardroom," Moran told a crowd of about 400 at the Charles Houston Recreation Center.

Moran resigned his House of Delegates seat in December to campaign full time and spent years prior to that laying the groundwork for a gubernatorial run. He was widely considered the favorite in the June 9 primary before former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe unexpectedly entered the race.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) is also running for the nomination. McAuliffe, a longtime McLean resident but a newcomer to state politics who is running as a "Richmond outsider," has created an unexpectedly steep climb for Moran.

A former chairman of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2008 presidential primary campaign, McAuliffe has brought national fundraising muscle and Beltway celebrity to the race. He amassed $4.2 million in the first quarter of this year, according to recent campaign finance reports, far ahead of Moran's $800,000 and Deeds's $600,000.

In all, McAuliffe has raised about $5.2 million. Moran has received almost $3 million.

Moran described growing up as one of seven children in a family of Roosevelt Democrats who first punched a time clock at 14, bagged groceries, worked construction and pumped gas. After law school he joined the Arlington County prosecutors office before he was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1996.

"We need a governor who is grounded in our commonwealth and connected to our people," said Moran, referring to McAuliffe's lack of political experience in Virginia. Moran himself is hardly a Beltway neophyte. More than a dozen defense contractors with business before his brother, U.S. Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), a member of the powerful House Appropriations defense subcommittee, have donated about $80,000 to his campaign since the beginning of the year, according to campaign finance reports.

Moran touched on familiar themes, pledging to fight for the environment by creating renewable energy and green jobs and reiterating his opposition to offshore drilling and the new coal plant in Surry. He also mentioned his "Healthy Virginia" plan that he said would extend health coverage to every child in the state.

"It's a moral responsibility and an economic necessity," Moran said. Moran presented a videotape tribute from his congressional big brother, who recalled how Brian cared for their father in the last days of his life as he was dying of pancreatic cancer.

Moran has the support of dozens of state and local Democratic Party officials, including most elected leaders in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. Many of them were in attendance yesterday, including Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille and Fairfax County Supervisor Penelope A. Gross (D-Mason).

Euille said he knew Moran had the right stuff the day he rear-ended Moran's wife, Karyn, while driving into the District. They both called Moran on their cellphones, and Euille said he was expecting an awkward scene when Moran showed up, but, Euille said, "He was cool, calm and collected."