Virginia Governor Elect McDonnell Says He'll Focus On Jobs
November 06, 2009 05:51 AM
RICHMOND, Va. (WUSA) -- Virginia's brand new governor-elect is promising job one will be jobs.
Bob McDonnell, in his first news conference after winning the governor's office by a stunning 18 point margin, said, "What Virginians were concerned about was jobs and economic opportunity. They were less interested in politics."
McDonnell says he'll offer tax incentives and open trade offices across the country and around the world in hopes of attracting new businesses and jobs to the commonwealth.
President Obama offered a congratulatory phone call this morning. Gov-elect McDonnell won by the biggest margin in a Virginia governor's race since 1961, but he says the contest was not a referendum on President Obama, who won in Virginia just a year ago. He says it was about who Virginians see as better able to deal with "kitchen table" issues like jobs, energy, education and transportation.
McDonnell says he and President Obama talked about common ground on issues like charter school, merit pay for teachers and the federal promise of more money for schools that "race to the top."
McDonnell says he'll put all his campaign promises up on the web, so voters can hold him to account and make sure he fulfills them.
He plans to post jobs with the state government at www.bobmcdonnelltransistion.com. He says the site will be active in a few days.
It was independents who provided the margin of victory, they broke two to one for McDonnell, despite supporting Obama a year ago.
Gov. Tim Kaine (D-Va) also called to congratulate the governor-elect. He says Virginia independents still support President Obama -- and by margins greater than they did a year ago. Gov. Kaine hinted that the defeat of Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds was at least in part due to his failure to court Obama independents early in the campaign.
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