Four year grudge match unfolding

NORFOLK, Va. - Virginians made their voices heard at the polls on Tuesday choosing a rematch in the race for the state's next Governor.

Democratic State Senator Creigh Deeds scored 50 percent of the votes, beating both his primary rivals by a nearly two-to-one margin. He will face Republican Bob McDonnell in November.

Political junkies crave a race like this: both are strong candidates, both will be well funded, and they know each other. Four years ago McDonnell beat Deeds by 323 votes for State Attorney General out of 1.9 million cast.

Make no mistake, Creigh Deeds against Bob McDonnell could become the biggest smack down political grudge match in Virginia History.

What has changed in Virginia in the last four years when these two faced off?

Regent University's Dean of the School of Government Dr. Chuck Dunn said, "McDonnell has tenure as Attorney General, and he has a credible record as Attorney General."

What else has changed is 620,000 new voters in Virginia? In recent elections they helped put democrats like Creigh Deeds in statewide office. "I'm going to have plenty of resources to make the case. I didn't have that four years ago. I've made myself well known the last four years around Virginia," Deeds said.

The economy has also changed as jobs are gone and unemployment is high. "This campaign is saying 'yes' to new jobs for our citizens. 'Yes' to offshore drilling and more energy. 'Yes' to charter schools and performance pay and real education reform," Bob McDonnell said.

In four years campaigns have changed. Who will be the smartest utilizing new media? "You're seeing more creative use of media. Campaigns that use the internet, blogging, tweeting. All of that is new," said Dr. Carol Pretlow who is a political analyst at Norfolk State University.

What else has changed? Deeds has new momentum. "In politics momentum is everything, and Deeds has momentum," said Dunn.

President Obama is also new and Deeds did poorly among African Americans. In fact, Deeds won every congressional district except the heavily African American Third District. Will Obama fight hard for Deeds to win, and then risk his own political defeat if Deeds loses?

"If Obama comes and raises money then you know it's in play. If he doesn't come and do these things then it's curtains for Deeds," Dunn said.

Governor Tim Kaine is new too and he now heads the Democratic National Committee. Kaine needs Deeds to win, but are Republicans more hungry after recent blow out losses?

Republican strength has changed in four years, "All across America Republicans are raising money. They are hungry. They know that the party out of power always wins congressional seats in the election cycle after a presidential campaign, and they will take a stand in Virginia," said Dunn. Pretlow countered, " I don't buy that. Republicans were hungry before and they could be seen as desperate if the campaigns take that tone."

Here are some more notes: Hampton Roads is pivotal, and that favors McDonnell who is from here. Finally, for more than 30 years whatever party has won the White House has lost the Virginia gubernatorial race.

Stay tuned to WAVY.com because this race is too close to call.