WASHINGTON – Virginia Republicans could take control over Senate in Tuesday’s election, but the state’s Democratic Party chairman says the they’ll be able to hold onto control.

Brian Moran, chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party, says Republican moderates have been pushed aside by more conservative Republicans.

“The brand of Republicans running this year would turn Virginia on a very extreme right turn,” says Moran.

Former Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., generally described as a moderate Republican, disagrees.

“The Davis’s of the world are very Republican this year.”

Davis says fiscal, not social issues are driving this year’s election.

He adds the voters like Gov. Bob McDonnell, a republican.

“It helps that we have a popular governor at this point so there is nothing for the Democrats to run against,” says Davis.

Republicans only need to pick up two seats to take control over the Senate, marking the first time since the Civil War that the party has had simultaneous control of the state’s House, Senate and Governor’s mansion.

Moran and Davis appeared Friday on WTOP’s Politics Program with Mark Plotkin.

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