Deeds rallies in front of Staunton’s Mill Street Grill

STAUNTON — Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds said Thursday that his legislative record is one of accomplishment while his Republican opponent Bob McDonnell spent his years in the legislature “on a social crusade.”

Deeds has criticized McDonnell’s anti-abortion stand, and has said he is too focused on his ideology.

Deeds, speaking to supporters in Staunton, said during his 18 years as a delegate and senator he has focused on education and creating economic opportunity.
Tucker Martin, McDonnell’s communications director, said Deeds supported 98 percent of McDonnell’s legislative proposals when McDonnell was Virginia attorney general.

“We appreciate Creigh’s strong support of Bob McDonnell’s positive agenda,’’ Martin said.

During a brief speech to about 50 supporters, Deeds said the good news of Virginia’s unemployment rate dropping from 7.1 to 6.9 percent was tempered by the realization that 286,000 people in the commonwealth remain out of work and 49,000 will lose their homes this year.

“They don’t know if their children can go to college,’’ he said.

Deeds wants to build on the progress of the administrations of Govs. Timothy Kaine and Mark Warner, and chided McDonnell for having praised George W. Bush’s leadership while president.

McDonnell’s praise of Bush was for the former president keeping the country safe after the Sept. 11 attacks and for his tax cuts policy.

Deeds said the Republican Party is attempting to tie him to the spending being done at the national level, and said a
television ad released this week attacked him because he fought to make sure Virginia teachers are paid the national average.

Martin said “Virginians are worried about the policies promoted by occupants of Washington D.C. They are worried about massive debt, cap and trade, card check, and nationalized healthcare, all policies Creigh supports that will hurt Virginia’s families and businesses.”

And Martin said McDonnell is on the record of working to bring Virginia teacher salaries to the national average.

The Democratic nominee also said McDonnell had offered an opinion as attorney general saying that Virginia state troopers should not be paid overtime. And Deeds said he put in a budget amendment to assure troopers received overtime pay.

Deeds, who is trailing in the polls to McDonnell, told supporters there is much work to be done over the final two months of the campaign.

But if elected, Deeds said he can be an effective governor who will improve transportation and bring bipartisan consensus to make college more affordable.
“I’m all in and I need you to be all in with me,’’ said Deeds, who plans campaign stops in Staunton this morning and will help open the Waynesboro Democratic Headquarters at 11 a.m. at Willow Oak Plaza followed by a tour of downtown businesses.