Moran gets nod from Williamsburg mayor...

Brian Moran's endorse-fest 2009 continued today as he picked up the backing of Williamsburg Mayor Jeanne Zeidler. 

This adds Zeidler to the lengthy local list of local mayors behind Moran which already includes Newport News Mayor Joe Frank, Hampton Mayor Molly Ward, Portsmouth Mayor James Holley, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim and former Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf.

In the Democratic race for governor, Moran has a serious foothold with local elected officials and a good edge with the political insiders in Hampton Roads. Clearly, Terry McAuliffe is trying to duck around the endorsements and go right to the public with TV and radio ads focusing on local issues. 

But if you've been tracking Moran's campaign over the past few months it's clear that he's relying heavily on these folks carrying Moran water to the polls in early June - especially in Northern Virginia. It gets back to an age-old political question. Do endorsements matter? Sure these people are respected leaders who have gotten voters to to the polls before.

But when was the last time you changed your mind after you heard another politician stand up and give full-throated support for another candidate? 

Then again, elected leaders are important bellwethers with deep community connections that can be powerful leverage. Take Mayor Frank, for example. Maybe his endorsement doesn't sway too many people to Moran's campaign, but if he's making robo-calls to Newport News voters about Moran - perhaps that's the kind of groundwork that leads to votes.  

Exhibit A - here's Frank's recent call to Peninsula voters - Download MORAN_FRANK_NEWPORTNEWS_AM . Nothing flashy, just solid behind-the-scenes politicking.

  

Comments

[Todd Smyth]

You seem to be saying TV ads might be more persuasive than local leader endorsements? In Virginia, Mayor and Union endorsements do count. If you have low name recognition like Deeds, TV helps you. If you have high name recognition like T-Mac, TV has a shorter ceiling.