Bob Holsworth has a write up of last night’s Republican AG debate in Roanoke:
At times, Brownlee displayed a level of political talent and skill that belied his stature as a political novice, running for office for the first time. Yet he also offered an interpretation of how the Attorney General should employ a ”moral filter” in reaching decisions that not only differed sharply from Cuccinelli and Foster, but represented an entrely new conception of the AG’s role in Virginia. And I am not certain how this conception would play out in the course of a campaign.
By contrast, Ken Cuccinelli, often portrayed in the media as an ideological lightning rod, came across as measured and pragmatic. I left feeling that Cuccinelli could learn something from Brownlee’s understanding of the kind of message that is likely to drive a general election choice in an AG’s race. But I also thought that Cuccinelli is far less likely to adopt new positions in the heat of battle that might throw the entire race off kilter.
Dave Foster came across as a thoughtful, witty and intelligent candidate, though I still guess that much of the political oxygen in the race is likely to be sucked out by Cuccinelli and Brownlee. His best hope seems to be either a train wreck involving both of them or a brokered convention in which neither Cuccinelli or Brownlee can find their way to a majority.
