“He’s trying to find candidates who can win. I’m trying to find people who can help me change the Senate,” said Jim DeMint of South Carolina, a leader of the conservative bloc. “To think we can grow the party by picking people who are more liberal and don’t share our core values doesn’t make any sense.”

……….this is reality……this is what is going to play out over the next few years

Yes, in stressful economic times, most voters don’t want a bunch of yapping about social issues and McDonnell was wise to stress local Virginia issues. But let us not think McDonnell offers political smokestack lightning. A competent Republican should have won the Virginia governor’s race this year and McDonnell proved competent. Let us see how popular he is after he gets to tackle the insolvable traffic crisis of northern Virginia.

Hoffman on the other hand, ran from the right when the voters in NY-23 were primarily in the center.

Hoffman also displayed a total lack of understanding of the issues local to NY-23. He campaigned as one of these national crusaders for conservatism generally. That’s not what the folks in NY-23 wanted to hear.

Still your key point is spot on. McDonnell spent his time talking about what people really care about in Virginia (especially Northern Virginia) economy, jobs, transportation. Now we will see if spends his time doing something about the same. Unfortunately because governors in Virginia are limited to single terms, it means he needs to move fast, which is difficult. It also means there is punishment for failure per se.

Hoffman on the other hand, ran from the right when the voters in NY-23 were primarily in the center.