Live-blogging at Marriott with GOP ... # 20

Room is darkened ... video being shown of Bob McDonnell campaigning over the past months.

SHAUN KENNEY HAS WON Board of Supervisors position in Fluvanna!!! It was a stealth campaign ... a win for the Jeffersoniad Bloggers.

Beach balls are now being bounced around the room over the heads of supporters ... music is pulsating ... video is going.

DJ McGuire lost his bid for Board of Supervisors in Spotsylvania. Sad news for the Jeffersoniad ... thanks for running, DJ. We're proud of you

Andrew Vehorn is here ... we're going down all the races statewide ... he said Bob McDonnell as Governor should declare "SWAC" a verb in the dictionary after the Kilgore campaign in 2005 (when Andrew was a staffer) made "SWAC" a noun, verb, and everything else it could be. He used to call me and ask that we "SWAC out" news and information.

Bob McDonnell has just been introduced as the next governor of Virginia and the room is going wild ... signs waving ... cheering.... American flags waving ... everyone is clapping to the music pulsating from the speakers ... whistles and cheers ... it's a WONDERFUL NIGHT for the Republicans in Virginia!

"Tonight's going to be a good night" is playing....

Wow.

"Eight months ago I applied for the job of governor ... tonight you have hired me." Bob McDonnell, newly elected Governor of Virginia 2009

He is thanking everyone and thanking them for electing Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Atty. General Ken Cuccinelli. He also thanked the wives and families. During his last landslide victory in 2005, he said (laughter) his daughter Jeanine was in Iraq. He promised next time she would be home ... and there would be no recount this time! (laughter, cheers)

A ton of people are on stage ... Gov. Jim Gilmore (who led he last sweep in Virginia in 1997), Lt. Gov. John Hager, Gov. George Allen, Rep. Eric Cantor, Atty. Gen. Jerry Kilgore, Bill Bolling, Ken Cuccinelli, I think I glimpsed Rep. Bob Goodlatte from the 6th Congressional District, Ed Gillespie, the Top Three families, House Speaker Bill Howell, Michael Steele ... I'm trying to see who all is up there but I can't see them all....

Bob McDonnell is noting Thomas Jefferson and George Washington ... working together as Virginians we will find the ways to solve the problems. THANK YOU to everyone who supported him ... from the bottom of his heart. To those who did not support him ... give him a chance to earn your trust for the bettermen of the Commonwealth. Grew up in the shadow of George Wasahington's home, Mt. Vernon. Was taught to work hard, dream big ... but never dreamed of following in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry but everyone has made that dream come through tonight.

The Virginia history geek in me absolutely loves the history of my home state of Virginia....

"It is the actions not the commission that makes the officer. More is expected from a leader than just a title." How very true.

And there's the photo ... all three candidates, hands together, held high over their heads ... our next leadership team of Virginia.

Thanks, Guys.