Low Turnout Could Plague Virginia Governor's Primary

VIENNA, Va. (WUSA) -- Two weeks and a day until Democrats go to the polls, and the three candidates: Terry McAuliffe, Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds, are still desperately seeking the voters attention.

It's Memorial Day, a time when voters often start focusing on politics. But the candidates admit it's the brutal economy that has captured the public's attention. And it's not clear how many will turn out to vote on June 9th, even if some new politicians could help save their jobs.

All three Democrats spent the long weekend hustling for votes across Northern Virginia. But who's paying attention?

"I haven't tuned in yet," says Jenny Mayo, grabbing an ice cream cone at the Viva Vienna street festival.

"Creigh Deeds, Brian Moran, Terry McAuliffe. Haven't heard of any of them?" I asked Brittany McGuire of Vienna.

"No, sorry," she responds.

The latest poll suggests former National Committee chair Terry McAuliffe is the Democratic frontrunner. The friend of former President Clinton and longtime political insider boasted at the Viva Vienna festival that he's an outsider when it comes to Virginia politics, a quick pivot on suggestions that he's a carpetbagger.

"If you want to shake it up, if you want big bold leadership, if you're tired of things not moving forward with the House of Delegates, than consider me for governor," says McAuliffe.

In contrast to McAuliffe's outsize personality, there is Brian Moran, a former Alexandria prosecutor and 12 year veteran of the Virginia House of Delegates.

"I have worked across the aisle, bridged the regional divide to come up with a transportation solution, invest in education, and create green energy jobs," says Moran.

But neither Northern Virginian captured the sought after endorsement of the Washington Post. It went instead to the man polls suggest is running dead last, state Sen. Creigh Deeds, from a rural district west of Richmond.

"It was a surprise. Humbling. It was such a strong endorsement. It could mean everything," says Deeds.

One big question is what kind of impact the contested primary will have on the Democrat in November. Republican Bob McDonnell is running unopposed. And a poll last week suggested if the contest was held now, he would beat any of the three Democrats by double digits.