Bob McDonnell's blog

We're proud to welcome Bob McDonnell, Republican candidate for Virginia Governor, to The Next Right.

To start off, I'd like to thank The Next Right for this opportunity to talk directly to this great community of online activists. This weekend, I formally kicked off my campaign for Governor of Virginia. If you're not from our state, I hope you'll play close attention to our campaign. I believe it can be a model for the Republican and conservative comeback all across the country.

In the last few elections, Republicans have learned the hard way that when we don't apply our conservative principles to solve real, everyday problems that people face in tough times, we lose.

My campaign is built around solutions to lead a recovery in Virginia built around private-sector jobs and entrepreneurship. That's a fundamentally different approach than the kind we're seeing out of Washington, D.C. these days.

Here in Virginia, we have nearly 1,000 people whose are focused on getting your tax money, and only one to ensure taxpayers aren't overcharged. That's a ratio that will change when I am Governor. We must also make Virginia the best state in the country to start a small business and create jobs -- with a goal of cutting the red tape so that every Virginian can start a business in 48 hours.

Virginia can also help lead America towards real energy independence. We have the opportunity to become the first state on the eastern seaboard to allow for offshore exploration and drilling, an opportunity I intend to fully pursue when I am Governor to create real private-sector jobs and keep prices down at the pump.

When folks in Washington try to force programs on Virginia that are bad for our economy and our quality of life we must be firm and principled in opposition. One of the things Virginia has done right is in upholding a pro-free enterprise Right to Work law. But Right to Work is under assault in Congress with the job-killing Card Check legislation pushed by big national union bosses. As Governor, I won't be afraid to take a stand against irresponsible policies at the national level that make it harder to create jobs in Virginia. I'm the only candidate in this race who has come out strongly and squarely against Card Check.

Two days into this five-day kickoff, I can tell you that Virginia Republicans are fired up and ready to win the governorship after eight years of Democrat control. The crowds have been large and enthusiastic. People are ready for a new brand of leadership that speaks to the concerns of citizens in every corner of Virginia.

No matter where you are, I hope you'll follow our campaign at BobMcDonnell.com or by texting "VA" to GOBOB (46262). In our online campaign, we hope to set a new standard for transparency and supporting real grassroots activism that can be a model for campaigns across the nation.

The eyes on the nation will be on Virginia this year, and this race will be a key test for our Republican comeback. To succeed, we need your help and support. Please spread the word wherever you go online, and remind all your friends in Virginia that they can get involved locally. I look forward to continuing this conversation with you in the weeks and months to come.