Sheila Johnson has long been a major backer of Virginia Democrats. Although she has given modest amounts to the campaigns of some Republicans over the years, she has given Tim Kaine and his PAC $600,000 since 2005. And she has been a major supporter of Mark Warner. In the recent Democratic primary, she gave a modest amount, $1,000 each, to the McAuliffe and Moran campaigns, but nothing to Creigh Deeds.

On Monday, she announced her endorsement of Bob McDonnell. the Republican candidate for Governor in Virginia this year.

A billionaire, Ms Johnson is part-owner of several sports franchises, and has other substantial business interests. A firm she owns, Salamander Hospitality, is in the process of developing an extensive resort facility in Loudon County. In her endorsement she specified McDonnell's views on the economy, support for business and job-creation plans as the basis for her decision. She noted that despite this endorsement she has always been a Democrat and is still a Democrat.

As a well-known African-American leader in entertainment (a co-founder of the BET), philanthropy and business, her endorsement must be seen as a stinging rebuke to Deeds. She commented that "Creigh Deeds ... would make a good governor, but Bob McDonnell will make a great governor."

And another major contributor stays mum

While Ms Johnson is second in total contributions to Kaine, the person who has been first, Randall J. Kirk of Radford, says he hasn't yet made up his mind about an endorsement. 'I'm thinking about the matter, but at the current moment, I have not found any significant reason to get involved -- I think either of them would be fine.'

Not only was Kirk Tim Kaine's top individual donor, he was Creigh Deeds' biggest individual donor, contributing $120,000 to Deeds' 2005 campaign for Attorney General.

(Dave Sagarin, July 22, 2009)