RICHMOND
Mark Earley is a family man. At 3:00 p.m. on Election day, Earley canvasses Short Pump Middle School with two of his sons. His youngest son, Mark, Jr. hovers near his father's side. The small boy wears a navy blue knit cap decorated with "Mark Earley for Governor" stickers and patches, which he says he made himself. His oldest son, Justin, stands several yards away, passing out sample ballots to encourage voters to cast their vote for his dad.
But this is only one example of the platform of strong family values upon which Earley has campaigned. And with six children and a wife, many voters believe he isn't short of helping hands.
"I think for him, family has been a real motivator," said Carlos Munoz, a volunteer for the Earley campaign. "They have been really involved with the process."
Erin Genset, another one of Earley's campaign volunteers, agreed that Earley's wife Cynthia has had a positive effect on the campaign. And one of Earley's daughters, Rachel, served as an intern during the campaign.
Today, even voting became a family affair. Earley went to the precincts to vote at noon along with Rachel and his wife.
"We took the whole family to vote," Earley said. "My daughter is a freshman at William and Mary so this was her first time."
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Even Earley's eldest son, Justin, dressed in a sleek black dress shirt and equally trendy khakis, has been at his been at his father's side all day.
"Vote for Mark Earley," he called to a passing voter. "He's my dad and he's a great guy."
Justin said he has taken an active role in his father's campaign and claims that he too would like to become involved in politics when he is older.
"Most of the time I just end up hanging signs, but occasionally I get to do the fun stuff, like this," Justin said.
In addition, Justin said he is only a little nervous about the outcome of the election.
"I am kind of just waiting for it to happen," he said. "I am not one to listen to the polls as much as I am to the people I meet and see. I think that he's gonna win."
At the polls
Earley's emphasis on the family did not seem to be limited to the realm of his wife and children - voters found themselves drawn in by his emphasis on family values.
"I got a chance to meet Earley this year, and I really felt that he was sincere in his campaign," said Rita Mahoney, who voted for Earley.
Mahoney said Earley's family seemed to be extremely prevalent within his campaign, and that for her, it really said something about his character.
"It was very refreshing to see a family man," she said. "His children were at this ribbon cutting, even his parents. You know, his mother came up to me all proud and was like, 'Look, that's my son.'"
While some voters may have believed that a candidate's family background was irrelevant in terms of political capabilities, many voters like Mahoney said Earley's strong family ties were a welcome change.
"I honestly think that it should have played a stronger role," said Anne Bradbury, who also voted for Earley. "I don't think that it sunk in enough to most Virginians that he is such a family man."
Bradbury added that although she thought family should not be politicized, she saw nothing wrong with it being a campaign issue. Bradbury instead said family ties are indicative of a candidate's leadership skills and priorities.
But family values were not the only defining characteristic of Earley's campaign. Voters who lined up at the polls in favor of the Republican seemed to be aware of the other facets of his campaign platform.
Many seemed to realize the prominence of religion in Earley's campaign - the candidate had a strong Christian following.
Earley supporter Pat Thorp said that the Republican's morals and dedication to his family played a strong role in her choice for governor.
"There was an emphasis in my church to vote for the candidate with a more Christian lifestyle," she said of her decision to support Earley.
Earley also seemed to maintain support at the polls from those Virginians who seemed a little different than the average voter. Bikers dressed in motorcycle regalia lined up to stamp their seal of approval at the voting booths.
And Steve Skeems was one of the first supporters to arrive at the Omni Hotel in Richmond to wait for the election results to return. But he was not wearing a suit and tie like many of the other patient supporters.
Instead, Skeems sported blue jeans, biker boots, a Harley Davidson T-shirt and a canvas hat covered in "Freedom Ain't Free" and "Bikers for Earley" buttons.
"Most people don't know that Mark Earley is a biker," Skeems said, laughing.
Skeems said Earley had supported their so-called biker bills like freedom of choice for helmet laws ever since he was a state senator, but for him, the candidates qualifications extended to other areas as well.
"Lower taxes and a little less government. That could do us all some good," Skeems said.
Meet me at the Omni
Although the majority of Earley's supporters did seem to fit the characteristic mold of a conservative Republican, there was more diversity than usual.
A small but growing number of African-American supporters filled the Ballroom of the Omni Hotel. The "Viva Earley" stickers worn there were reminiscent of his mission work in the Philippines and seemed to target an ethnic audience. The diverse gathering of voters all waited with anxious eyes as the voting returns rolled in.
Dennis Peterson, operations director of the campaign, said that in his experience, the candidate usually will wait for the returns with his wife, kids and perhaps a close political adviser or friend.
"But Earley, he had two rooms with about 30 people crammed in there," Peterson said. "I will bet you that 20 of them were kids under the age of 16. Kids, cousins, aunts and uncles. It must be what it's like for him on Thanksgiving."
So as the 52 percent Warner, 47 percent Earley results came in, Earley delivered his concession speech surrounded by his family.
His daughter Rachel wept on stage and his son Justin played the drums with several other high school friends as part of the delivery. The audience seemed surprised and saddened by the results.
"I'm disappointed for Mark and I'm disappointed for his family," Peterson said.
But Earley's senior consultant, Anne Kinkaid, said that despite the loss of the gubernatorial race, Earley's family "will continue to be his greatest source of support and comfort" now and in the future.
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