The Democratic Party of Virginia has weighed in on Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's decision to suspend his gubernatorial campaign, with a memo titled: "Cuccinelli-Akin-Mourdock Politics on the Ballot in 2013"
Here's the memo:
"On November 6th, 2012 voters in Virginia and across the country chose results-oriented Democrats like President Obama and Tim Kaine to serve them in Washington. One of the key takeaways of last year's elections was Americans' widespread rejection the divisive agenda of politicians like Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock, who made national headlines and alienated voters in their states and across the country. The high profile losses of hyper-partisan Tea Party candidates are instructive as Virginia Republicans prepare to nominate Ken Cuccinelli for Governor in 2013. While Cuccinelli was not on the 2012 ballot, his extreme and divisive ideology was and it lost by wide margins in Republican states.
"Their stories are similar: Akin, Mourdock and Cuccinelli all gained prominence because they feel that most elected Republicans are too moderate, especially on issues like women's health. They all took power by activating a vocal minority within the Republican Party.
"And they have succeeded in driving more reasonable leaders and mainstream voters away from the GOP.
"In Indiana and Missouri, Cuccinelli's allies each lost large polling leads after their voters came face to face with their radical agenda. They each lost moderates by over 30 points, independents by over 10 points, and women by double digits. Those results were a direct outcome of their desire to use government to impose a radical and divisive social agenda. But for Cuccinelli, the election results are evidence that his party is actually too moderate.
"Cuccinelli's worldview is far from Virginia's reality. This year, 45% of Virginia's diverse electorate identified as moderate, far surpassing both liberals and conservatives. The vast majority expressed mainstream views on issues like the economy and women's health. Few would align themselves with Cuccinelli's identity as an extreme ideological firebrand pursuing a divisive agenda.
"The more mainstream Republican Party of the past may have isolated these fringe extremists. Now, those extremists control the Republican Party and the people being isolated are the mainstream Republicans. Here in Virginia, the Cuccinelli wing of the Republican party has seized control over party infrastructure from more mainstream supporters of Governor Bob McDonnell and cleared the path for Cuccinelli's nomination.
"That coup sets up yet another choice for voters between a results-oriented Democratic agenda and a radical, hyper-conservative partisan whose approach to government has more to do with advancing his personal ideology than making people's lives better."
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