WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Governor-elect Bob McDonnell names leaders of his transition team

Governor-elect Bob McDonnell names leaders of his transition team

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Virginia's Republican Governor-elect, Bob McDonnell, said he got a friendly congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama after Tuesday's victory.

In a Wednesday news conference to outline top leaders to his gubernatorial transition team, McDonnell said the Democratic president called him about 11 a.m.

He said the president praised him for a good campaign and he complimented Obama for his ideas on merit pay for teachers and charter schools.

McDonnell said party affiliation would not disqualify people from service in his administration, but said he had not yet considered specific cabinet posts.

McDonnell named his campaign manager, Phil Cox, to direct his transition team, and his campaign spokesman, Tucker Martin, as communications director.

Kaine downplays link between GOP sweep, Obama

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine says Democratic losses in Virginia and New Jersey had more to do with local issues than the first-year performance of President Barack Obama.

Exit polling showed support for Obama remained steady despite Virginia's Republican sweep, led by Bob McDonnell's landslide victory over Democrat Creigh Deeds in the governor's race.

As chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Kaine said he will try to figure out why independents who helped Obama win last year voted overwhelmingly for Republicans on Tuesday. Kaine discussed the election at a news conference Wednesday in Richmond.

In Virginia, many of the young people and minorities who helped make Obama the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1964 didn't vote Tuesday.