Wagner Picking Up the Pace (Washington Post)

by Tim Craig

Although she got into the race just a month ago, former Finance Secretary Jody W. Wagner is accelerating her campaign for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.

Wagner has a half-dozen campaign events planned this week, focusing on local Democratic meetings in an effort to reach out to party activists. On Friday, Wagner announced she has been endorsed by 30 members of the General Assembly, including Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (Fairfax) and Sen. Charles J. Colgan (Prince William) from Northern Virginia and senators Yvonne Miller (D-Norfolk) and L. Louise Lucas (Portsmouth) from Hampton Roads.

The full list of Wagner’s legislative supporters indicates she is moving swiftly to try to lock up support in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, two pivotal regions in a Democratic primary. Google Ads have also started appearing on the Internet in which Wagner tries to link herself to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and former governor Mark R. Warner. Wagner served as finance secretary under Kaine and state treasurer under Warner.

Wagner’s main opponent for the nomination, Jon Bowerbank, had until recently been mounting a very visible campaign. But some Democrats have questioned Bowerbank’s apparent absence from both the Buena Vista Parade and Rep. Robert Scott’s (D-Va.) annual picnic on Labor Day.

Bowerbank’s campaign did not return a phone message this week inquiring about his lower-than-normal profile. But his website indicates he plans to be at Warner’s annual pig roast on Saturday as well as a meet-and-greet Sunday in Herndon.

A third possible candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, state Democratic Party Chairman C. Richard Cranwell, is not expected to make up his mind on whether to enter the race until after the Nov. 4 election.

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