And then there were 5: News-Virginian endorses no one for governor

Conservative Shenandoah Valley newspaper The News-Virginian has declined to endorse any of the three candidates for governor in the 2013 Virginia campaign.

That now makes five newspapers who have passed on this endorsement: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Roanoke Times, News & Advance, and News Progress and, today, the News-Virginian to that growing list.

Addressing the campaign, the News Virginian wrote:

It’s ... been one of the nastier ones in recent memory, with both Democratic and Republican nominees focusing too much time on attacking their opponent and too little on talking up their own plans for the Commonwealth. If that’s an indication of how their administration would be, we can’t endorse any of the candidates in this year’s race. We’ve seen too much bickering and attacking in Washington. It just takes up time and accomplishes little.

This is notable because the News-Virginian is a relatively conservative newspaper in the conservative Shenandoah Valley, one of the reddest parts of the Commonwealth, with conservative representatives who often go unchallenged. Indeed, in 2013 the three local delegates for the House of Representatives who represent the SWAC area, have no opponents as noted by News-Virginian political reporter Bob Stuart earlier this week in his article, "Local House members face clear path to re-election."

Reflecting the sour mood of the electorate in this election cycle, two newspapers -- the Daily Progress and Roanoke Times suggested writing in Republican Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling.

Election 2013 has, indeed, been an odd one.