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Old
Dominion
Politics
tributed to its salvation.
The first was Richard J. Davis of Portsmouth, a tough pragmatic businessman who became the Democrats’ state party chairman and not only preached unity but demanded it. He convinced warring factions that there were no rewards in spilling each other’s blood and no matter what their philosophical differences, all could profit from beating Republicans.
The second factor was the gradual shift of Virginia Republicans from being a high-spirited unified party to one whose members suddenly seemed to turn on each other.
The turning point may have come when George McMath of the Eastern Shore, the state chairman, resigned. McMath, a successful publisher, computerized the party and its fund raising processes and gave long suffering Republicans the taste of victory in statewide elections.
When Republican Marshall Coleman lost a gubernatorial bid last year for the second time in the 1980’s after besting Congressman Stan
94.9%