McDonnell’s Independents vs. Deeds’ “Republicans”

While Creigh Deeds and his blogsophere backers tried to trumpet the endorsements of eight washed-up “Republicans,” Bob McDonnell unleashed over 100 Sheriffs and Commonwealth’s Attorneys who endorsed him.

What intrigued me was that 39 of these public safety officials were elected as Independents.  In fact, at least six of them ran against Republican nominees in their last election (2007).

For those keeping score, the number of Deeds “Republicans” who actually ran as Republicans in 2007 was exactly two, both of whom were defeated in primaries.  In other words, of the eight Deeds “Republicans,” exactly zero were on the general election ballot as Republicans in 2007.

So to recap, more Republicans ran against Bob McDonnell supporters in 2007 than ran as future Deeds supporters that year.  Keep that in mind the next time the Dems try to hype up their cross-party support.