Tim Russert moderated a debate in the tony Virginia suburbs yesterday between Virginia’s major gubernatorial candidates, Republican Jerry Kilgore and Democrat Tim Kaine. (The last post poll had Kilgore ahead seven points among likely voters.) From The Washington Post, it seems Russert will be remembered for making the Republican look bad:

Kilgore faltered under a series of questions by moderator Tim Russert, host of NBC’s Meet the Press. Asked by Russert whether he would sign a bill to outlaw abortion if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade , Kilgore refused to answer, calling the question hypothetical. Russert, who thrills in catching national politicians in contradictions on his Sunday morning show, followed up quickly by asking whether Kilgore would veto a tax increase. Kilgore fell for the trick question, saying he would. “That’s a hypothetical question!” Russert said, prompting laughter from the luncheon crowd of more than 500 Northern Virginia business executives in the ballroom of the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.

The Post story then follows with Larry Sabato saying Kilgore looked bad, and Kaine was great. The Post later notes Russert also asked Kaine a life-issues question, “whether the Democrat’s personal opposition to the death penalty would influence his decisions as governor.” Kaine answered, “I’m not going to spend my time fighting a quixotic battle that I can’t win.” But the local TV coverage I saw only dwelled on the Kilgore-Russert fireworks.

Russert made a fair point to Kilgore, but if you experienced it on TV (especially the whooping crowd reaction and then Russert looking perturbed), it can look more like a debate between Russert and Kilgore. (It should be noted that northern Virginia business executives are NOT a group of conservatives, but a group of avid tax-hikers who think just like….The Washington Post.) But the question of Roe being overturned is much more hypothetical than Democrats and their businessman pals pushing for tax increases. Russert didn’t ask Kaine that if the Supreme Court made so-called “gay marriage” something states could legislate, how fast would he sign that into law in Virginia?

One thing’s for sure: Russert won’t be hounded by liberal columnists for being a bully, like when he was supposedly rude to Hillary in 2000.