Ken Cuccinelli Profile • Robert Sarvis Profile • Terry McAuliffe Profile
As Virginians consider their choices for the commonwealth's next governor, the two major-party candidates have been engaged in a highly partisan contest that's often described as "nasty" and "ugly." While Republican Ken Cuccinelli and Democrat Terry McAuliffe trade barbs, third-party candidate Robert Sarvis, a Libertarian, portrays himself as a moderate alternative without the baggage carried by his much-better-funded opponents. As with other recent elections, Virginia is being viewed as a bellwether for future campaigns, including the next U.S. Senate races and even the 2016 presidential election. Whatever the outcome, November will bring a new wind to Richmond. The question is whether that wind will blow in a national Democratic leader, if the winds of change will favor the Republican Party's conservative wing — or if those winds might bring something unexpected and unprecedented to the Old Dominion.
