George,

People forget that Virginia conducts OPEN primaries! This gives the opposing party a chance to help choose the party nominee.

I am an election official representing Democrats in a Republican precinct. The precinct captain is an ardent Republican. She was welcoming all her Republican friends in the Democratic primary...lots and lots of them.

While she was talking with one, I went up to them and noting the Republican turnout, I asked for whom they were voting. The answer was: We are all voting for Creigh Deeds!

He received lots of votes from Republicans in his primary victory which was viewed as an upset. Creigh Deeds is a very nice person. I like him. I always voted for him.

Do you really wonder why the Republicans were voting for him?

Gene Ecton Davis (Electronic mail, November 5, 2009)