An interesting theme is beginning to emerge in the early stage of the 2009 campaign: Virginia as a “right to work” state.
Right to work began to be discussed at the national level with “card check” – where union members would no longer have the option to vote by secret ballot. Then we began seeing stories about how Democratic candidates have visited and supported union picket lines. Finally, there’s this from Tim Craig of the Washington Post on last week’s JJ Dinner:
9) What does the term “Virginia Democrat” mean in 2009? If someone was dropped by parachute into the convention hall, they might have at times thought they were at a Democratic dinner in heavily unionized Michigan, not Virginia, a right-to-work state.
Deeds and Moran took shots at corporations and their chief executives. Their message ran somewhat counter to the state party’s reputation for being pro-business and socially moderate. Of the three, McAuliffe, who has vowed to grow the state’s economy, might be the one who emerges as the safe choice for the influential business community.
Will a person’s right to work be the big – and surprise – issue of 2009?
