In the Friday, May 22 edition of the Washington Post, the editorial board of the venerable daily endorsed State Senator Creigh Deeds in the June 9 primary to decide the Democratic nominee for governor. Despite former Alexandria delegate Brian Moran and McLean resident Terry McAuliffe’s ties to the D.C. area, the paper called Deeds “the best candidate for Northern Virginia.” “Unlike his opponents,” reads the editorial, “Mr. Deeds has made clear that he would make transportation his first priority, vowing to tackle this region’s greatest challenge while his political capital is at its height.” Additionally, they like his chances best in November against Republican nomineee Bob McDonnell, against whom Deeds ran for attorney general in 2005. “Mr. Deeds lost by a scant 323 votes out of roughly 2 million cast despite being outspent 2 to 1,” writes the board. “Virginia is still more purple than blue, and Mr. Deeds’s moderate platform would have the broadest appeal.” The endorsement comes on the heels of a SurveyUSA poll that puts McAuliffe ahead of Deeds by 11 points.