Thursday Must-Reads: Virginia is for Primaries

The Democratic gubernatorial primary in Virginia heats up as Terry McAuliffe co-hosts a fundraiser with a formerly Republican firm. Moran attacks the move and Deeds says now is the time to look forward. The three did at least agree to five debates. Across the aisle, Bob McDonnell is set to rake in $250,000 tonight, thanks to John McCain. RNC Chair Michael Steele, notably absent from Tuesday’s NRCC fundraising dinner, is back to making daring public statements. This time, in a CNN interview, Steele says he would consider running for president and that his fracas with (and subsequent apology to) Rush Limbaugh was a calculated move:

“I want to see what the landscape looks like. I want to see who yells the loudest. I want to know who says they’re with me but really isn’t.”  

“It helps me understand my position on the chess board. It helps me understand, where, you know, the enemy camp is and where those who are inside the tent are,” Steele added. “It’s all strategic.”

Centrism as a primary handicap now appears to not just be a Republican problem; a Florida Blue Dog Democrat is being criticized for being too far right by the state Senate Minority Leader. Mark Blumenthal takes a look at the polling that goes on inside the White House. In NY-20, votes for the Libertarian candidate will not count after his nominating signatures are challenged. Republican Jim Tedisco, who benefits from that removal, leads a round-up of the latest ads. In an email to supporters, his new ad is identified prominently for its positivity. Americans United for Change have an ad out supporting Obama’s budget. And the new Domino’s “Big Taste Bailout” ads are doubling as not-quite-political ads since CEO and star David Brandon is considering a run for the Michigan governor’s seat.