ARLINGTON, Va. - Republicans swept to a landslide victory in Virginia Tuesday night, attracting independent voters who backed President Barack Obama (web | news | bio) one year ago.

Bob McDonnell (web | bio) , a former state attorney general, won with nearly 59 percent of the vote Tuesday, claiming a mandate for his conservative agenda with help from independent voters. 

"I just wanted everybody in Virginia to know that I intend to govern the same way I campaign," McDonnell said in a Wednesday news conference to outline top leaders to his gubernatorial transition team. "I try to tell people in a detailed way what I intend to do."

McDonnell said he got a friendly congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama about 11 p.m. Tuesday. 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.

"He was exceptionally gracious and kind," McDonnell recalled. "We had a few laughs."

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. 

	2009	2008	2005
Fairfax	51-49	60-39	60-38
Loudoun	61-39	54-45	52-46
Pr. William	58-41	58-42	50-48
(Result)	(R)-(D)	(D)-(R)	(D)-(R)

The election largely turned on independent voters, who preferred McDonnell by nearly a 2-1 ratio over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, exit polls showed. It was a shift from 2008, when independents in the state split about evenly between the parties.

McDonnell carried Fairfax County (web | news) 51-49, Loudoun 61-39, and Prince William County (web | news) 58-41. One year ago, Barack Obama carried those same counties 60-39, 54-45, and 58-42, respectively. In 2005 Kaine carried all three counties: 60-38, 52-46, and 50-48, respectively.

Democrats dismissed the Republican sweep of Virginia as the continuation of a pattern: for the past 32 years, the party that wins the White House loses the governor's mansion in Virginia. But Republicans believe otherwise, seeing the landslide victory as a statement that Democrats better watch out in the 2010 mid-term elections. 

"I don't think there's any question, this is a signal," said Virginia GOP Rep. Eric Cantor, the House minority whip. "This is a signal to moderate Democrats in Congress and to the White House that they'd better reconsider the direction of their politics."

"All this noise about the death of the party and it's over and the age of Obama -- it's crazy nonsense," declared Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

As for the Governor-elect, McDonnell said he's going to take a few days off, travel to his Alma Mater, Notre Dame, for a football game this weekend and spend time with his family. He says he has spoken with Gov. Tim Kaine by phone to start the transition process.

Voters say they hope he keeps his pledge not only to keep taxes, litigation and spending low -- but also to work with Democrats.

"I didn't vote for him, so I hope that he can stand up and carry through with what he promised," said Arlington voter Heather Hanscom.

Watch McDonnell's victory speech...

"I would really be interested to see if he can actually accomplish all of that," said Arlington voter Brian Allen

Political rhetoric or not, others say they have faith in Virginia and in the future 71st governor.

"Jobs are always a good thing, I guess," said Don Schenck, a voter from Ashburn. "I certainly would like to see some progress on the transportation problems, but he's really going to have his work cut out for him."

In other Virginia races, Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling won re-election over Democrat Jody Wagner, and Republican Kenneth Cuccinelli was elected attorney general over Democrat Steve Shannon with about the same share of the vote as McDonnell.

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