Crosspost at Blue Commonwealth
Blueweeds has opened up a discussion about Tuesday's straw poll in which he remarks - emphasis mine:
From one progressive to another, is the straw poll an indicator of which candidate is the most progressive on policy issues, or is it (merely) an indication of early campaign organization and money? Because my sense is that it is the latter, and I am confused about why a progressive blog community would shamelessly promote early organization and money over progressive policy? I know why campaign operatives would do it, but why would grassroots netroots progressives promote organization and money over policy?
The problem with this discussion is that it falsely asserts that Brian Moran is the pure Progressive candidate. He is not.
Brian Moran tailored his legislative career around middling positions and calculated stances. Moran endorsed and voted for the Wise coal plant, and now he has drawn a line in the sand around Surry. What was right about Wise, and why is Surry suddenly so terrible? The difference is that now Brian Moran is being outgunned by the McAuliffe campaign in terms of money, organization, message and mojo and Moran's only hope is to rally progressives around a veil of progressive purity which doesn't exist.
Moreover, Brian Moran, unlike Creigh Deeds, seems to have escaped scrutiny for his A rating from the NRA. And while we're talking about Senator Deeds, he supported a rational 5 cent increase in the gas tax, a plan which was scuttled in the House under Moran's leadership - Hello Abuser Fees!
Brian Moran's supporters are passionate and have strong reasons for supporting their candidate, but this false assertion that he is the pure progressive is simply false. Each of the candidates in this race has taken progressive positions and each of them has ideas on how to move Virginia forward. Pragmatic progressives understand that in the absence of a Democratic majority the progressive agenda is dead.
His business plan for Virginia with its focus on green jobs and energy describes a powerful progressive vision, and critically Terry McAuliffe can carry Virginia Democrats to victory in November.
Full disclosure - I've endorsed Terry McAuliffe