GOP leaders: Party must get back to basics to win

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling say state Republicans need to get back to discussing “kitchen table issues” to return to winning elections in Virginia.

And both said that Republicans had lost the last two U.S. Senate elections and two gubernatorial elections because they had failed to connect as well as Democrats with Virginia’s suburban voters.

The two office holders will lead the Republican ticket in 2009, with McDonnell running for governor and Bolling for another term as lieutenant governor. The two talked to reporters during a Friday conference call.

“Bob and I are absolutely determined to get back to issues and ideas and a positive vision for the future of the state,” said Bolling, who described the strategy as kitchen table politics.

Those issues include improved transportation, better access to higher education and other quality-of-life issues.

McDonnell said he expects the focus to be on those issues next year, not on a lagging U.S. economy, an unpopular president and an unpopular war.

Those were all things that hurt Republicans in this year’s election.

“I don’t see these happening in 2009,” McDonnell said of the numerous negatives that cost Republicans votes in Virginia and in the presidential race.

McDonnell and Bolling also said Republicans need to do better in Virginia’s suburban areas, a traditional source of strength for the party.

“Democrats have done a better job in the suburbs than we have,” said Bolling, pointing to recent strong Democratic showings in the suburbs of Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads.

“We have to reconnect with those suburban voters who really share our common sense conservative principles,” Bolling said.

McDonnell and Bolling say they will have a 15-month headstart on Virginia Democrats, who will not decide their statewide candidates until next summer.

“It is unprecedented for Republicans to have the top officeholders a year out,” McDonnell said, adding that the party is unified behind his and Bolling’s candidacies in 2009.

McDonnell did offer credit to President-elect Barack Obama for his victory.

“I salute President-elect Obama for running a very energetic and charismatic campaign and one of historic proportions,” McDonnell said.