Good Deeds

Live Blog!

2009-11-03T20:45:00.005-05:00

Good evening loyal readers.

I'm spending the night sitting in front of my TV watching the results pool in. So far it has been pretty depressing news but northern Virginia has yet to come in. While it is clear that McDonnell is the victor, I'm guessing it will be closer than some have estimated.

I wanted to take some time to thank all the supporters who came out for Deeds today. We may not have won but we made our presence known. Additionally, I would like to thank all of the supports who have maintained an active voice throughout this entire election. Don't give up. Your voice is still heard.

And like they say, there's always next time.

-Anthony

UPDATE 8:40- Politico has announced "GOP sweeps Virginia elections" and crowned McDonnell winner. I'm still hoping the unannounced northern Virginian votes make this a closer race.
Politico: "McDonnell's decisive victory brings an end to eight years of Democratic control of the governor's office in Richmond and breaks a series of disappointing elections for the Virginia GOP, which saw their state flip to the Democratic column for the first time in 44 years in last year's presidential election. The Associated Press called the race with just under 30 percent of precincts reporting."

UPDATE 9:02- The race is not getting any closer. To make things worse Bolling is leading by about 16 points (58%-42%), and Cuccinelli by 18 points (59%-41%).

Election Day!

2009-11-03T08:56:00.001-05:00

The polls are open. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Click here to find out where to vote, or to sign up to volunteer.

DO YOU BELIEVE?

2009-11-02T22:22:00.002-05:00

As we sit here on the eve of the election, the pundits have already decided who will win tomorrow’s race for Governor. However, they have forgotten one thing: they don’t get to decide Virginian’s next Governor. The people of Virginia do.

Polls are polls, and they offer a snapshot of particular moment in time. They are not election results. Anything can happen when the voters stand in the privacy of the voting booth, and ask themselves what they want for their future. Do they want to be led by a man that has denounced homosexuality and woman who have the audacity to get a job? Do they want the man that has run the most negative campaign Virginia has ever seen? Or do they want the candidate with the real vision for the future?

At this point, it would be an upset if Creigh Deeds won. But it won’t take a miracle. The Democrats now have an extensive organization built in Virginia, and that organization has the ability to turn out people that are not considered “likely voters,” and therefore are not included in the polls. There is also the possibility that McDonnell voters have become complacent, and will decide to stay home because they believe, as the pundits do, that the election has already been decided.

So basically, anything can happen. It is still in the hands of the voters, and the choice is clear: Bob McDonnell wants to move Virginia backwards, and Creigh Deeds wants to lead the way forward.

This election matters, and every vote counts. Click here to find your polling place.

-Mike

Getting out the votes with Creigh

2009-11-02T03:11:00.002-05:00

It ha sbeen a pleasure to meet the people of Virginia as I went canvassing with the campaign this past weekend. The timing feels good and the energy behind Creigh is there, it just needs to materialize on Tuesday.

Everyone in the cmapaign has had great expectations and poured their hearts and souls into spreaidng Creigh's message since the primaries and before then. It is a special time when the campaign's can no longer sway, the airwaves saturated, the newspapers full of ads, and the blogs posting away.

This get out the vote period is now up to every Virginian to accomplish on their own. It is time for each perosn to exercise their right to vote.

I hope to see every Virginian voting for Creigh or not to come out otmorrow in Market Square in Old Town Alexandria at 6pm to meet Creigh and the whole deomocratic ticket. Bob Mcdonnell was right for one time in the campaign this weekend at Shenandoah Regional Airport when he said polling does not matter. The only poll that matters is the one on Nov. 3rd. I cannot wait for the final poll to be taken and to hopefully have Creigh Deeds as Govenor elect of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

For a little more about where the candidates have been in recent days and where you can find them tomorrow see this article from the Richmond Dispatch:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/GOVS02_20091101-222403/303131/

DON'T FORGET...6PM IN MARKET SQUARE IN OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA!

Ben

Obama Addresses VA!

2009-10-29T16:43:00.008-04:00

President Obama is going above and beyond to endorse Deeds for this election! As if the rally wasn't enough, President Obama is sending a personal message to over 330,000 Virginians. The letter is intended to persuade voters to get out, vote, and vote blue for this coming election. I anticipate the letter will way in heavily for the end results in this campaign. After all, who wouldn't be flattered by a personal letter addressed to you from the President of the United States?

In the letter, Obama writes, "To make real changes in this country, it will take more than just my presidency - it requires your continued vigilance in the cause of progress. To move this country forward, I need the support and partnership of good governors who are ready to help lay the foundations of change. And this November 3rd is your opportunity to help Virginia do just that."

Just when we thought it may be over, the campaign continues to surprise us. If the campaign has anymore tricks up their sleeves like this one, I suggest pulling out the big guns now; it's now or never in these final days before the election. It's not over yet folks. Let's continue to mobilize and spread Creigh's message. While Obama's endorsement is a major victory for the campaign, it is going to take a lot more than one man (even if he is president) to win this election. On November 3rd, join me, Obama, and thousands of Virginians to help keep Virginia blue!

If you missed it, here's a mini clip of Obama calling VA to action:

-Anthony

Deeds on Holy Ground

2009-10-28T16:30:00.004-04:00

According to the Virginian Pilot, Creigh Deeds completed a whirlwind tour of eleven churches this past Sunday. This is a fantastic strategy from the Deeds campaign. Visiting churches is a reliable way to connect with people that are likely to vote. Not only do older people tend to go to church and vote in larger numbers, according to the article, the churches Deeds targeted were also predominately African American. This is a key constituency that came out in large numbers for Barack Obama last fall and many expect them to stay home on November 3rd. That is unless Deeds can get them to come out to the polls.

The Virginian Pilot reminds readers that church appearances were key components to the winning strategy of candidates Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Jim Webb. Visiting churches reminds voters that voting is a civic duty that should be not taken lightly. In fact, according to the article, one pastor told his congregation that not voting was a sin. Reverend Kim Brown of Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church told churchgoers that “God said give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's.... He's not just talking about taxes. He's talking about participating in government." If that’s what it takes to get Democrats to the polls, then let’s spread the word!

Click here to read the entire article

-Nick

A Path to Victory

2009-10-28T15:44:00.004-04:00

The map featured above provides a visual representation of the county results from the 2008 Presidential election. It was in that election that Barack Obama beat John McCain in the state of Virginia by a comfortable 6 point margin, 53 percent to 47 percent. This marked the first time a Democrat carried the state of Virginia since 1964. This map illustrates that there are Democratic voters in Virginia, and they are willing to come out and vote. Our job is to motivate these voters. We need to show them exactly how much is at stake in this election.

As the photo clearly illustrates, not all areas of the Commonwealth are fertile territory for a Democratic candidate, but it gives us a blueprint to find voters that will support us. In the final six days of this campaign, all of our efforts should be dedicated to these areas. The Deeds campaign needs to send prominent surrogates to every blue area on this map. From now to Election Day, there needs to be a strong Democratic presence in these areas, encouraging people to come out to vote. If voters get the feeling that this race is already decided, they will not be motivated to vote.

-Nick

Photo of the Week

2009-10-28T15:22:00.009-04:00

After a short hiatus, photo of the week is back! This photo needs a good captain. Best captain wins!

-Nick

Undecideds can still swing this election

2009-10-27T11:04:00.004-04:00

The latest poll from Clarus Research group shows that 10% of Virginians are still undecided about who their next Governor should be. The poll does show Bob McDonnell ahead of Creigh Deeds by eight points, but you must also consider the 4% margin of error. The span could actually be as low as only four points, or as large as thirteen.

Assuming for the moment that the span is closer to four points than it is to thirteen, the one out of ten voters that have not made up their mind are going to decide the election. This is good news for Creigh Deeds, because he has all of the momentum right now, and there is a good chance that the undecideds will swing his way. He has had a string of solid newspaper endorsements, and has the President coming out strongly for him. That President, by the way, still posts a 54% approval rating among Virginians, so anybody that thinks that Deeds needs to distance himself from Obama is flat wrong.

All of this momentum is coupled with the fact that Creigh Deeds has a stronger field operation, built by the Obama campaign one year ago, and he will undoubtedly be able to turn out more of his voters on election day than McDonnell. This race is still close, and nothing has been decided yet. Yes, Creigh Deeds can win.

-Mike

Endorsements that Matter!

2009-10-26T02:02:00.003-04:00

Virginians are edorsing Creigh Deeds for Governor because they know that he has the courage and plan to succeed in Virginia. Whethere it is in energy or in education, Creigh has won the support of regular people in the Commonwealth through the smartness of his ideas, bold nature of his campaign, and appeal to the roots of what matters in policy and not politics.

The Virginia Pilot enodorses Deeds saying that, "he offers a political strategy rather than a substantive plan for solving the state's most overwhelming challenge."

On the contrary Bob McDonnell is a chain-link fence of stall tactics designed to distract voters into believing that progress is being made while not providing the money to actually make it. Under a Gov. McDonnell, transportation advocates would waste four years clawing their way over, under and around barriers erected by the state's top elected official.

These are legitimate worries that Virginians are struggling to communicate to one another in the final days of the campaign. The endorsements matter in that now it is not a national party telling Virginia that they should believe in just any hope and change, but rather a man that will be fighitng for them every day in office.

Read more of the endorsement at: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/creigh-deeds-governor

While the papers are carefully analyzing the views of the campaigns, it is the duty of each Virginian to continue the conversation at home at the dining room table. Remember that a couple phone calls to fellow Virginians or going to their doors to bring the message of good jobs for Virgnia with Creigh is what matters in these finals days.

Volunteer with Creigh on his website: http://www.deedsforvirginia.com/

"We've got a election in nine days and I need your help ... I'm here to tell you that the work is not finished."

– Creigh Deeds SOURCE: Hampton Roads Daily Press

Ben

Why the Thesis Matters

2009-10-21T15:13:00.006-04:00

In an excellent article from The Hill, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) makes it clear why Bob McDonnell’s graduate school thesis is fair game in this election. Remember, it was the Republican Party that tried to stem Webb’s momentum in 2006 by bringing up the Senator’s own writing. But now Republicans are calling foul when Democrats borrow their own techniques. Whereas Webb’s semi-controversial writings were largely works of fiction, the same cannot be said for McDonnell’s thesis. As Webb explains, McDonnell’s thesis is “essentially a political manifesto” which gives voters an idea of the McDonnell’s true political beliefs. During this entire campaign McDonnell has tried to convince Virginians that he is a moderate Republican, but if you read his thesis, nothing seems further from the truth. It is disingenuous for the Republican Party to try to compare McDonnell’s extreme thesis to the works of fiction penned by Senator Webb. If you have not had a chance to read the thesis yet, you should definitely check it out and forward it to any of your friends in Virginia. Below you can find a link to the article from The Hill and a link to McDonnell’s thesis. Check it out yourself and make up your own mind. I think you will be very shocked to see what McDonnell wrote. If he considers himself moderate, I have no idea what he considers conservative.
Check out article The Hill's article here
Excerpts from McDonnell's thesis

-Nick

Obama Featured in New Deeds Commercial

2009-10-21T14:38:00.003-04:00

An electrifying new commercial has been created by Creigh Deeds’ campaign. The ad features President Obama calling on Virginian voters to get “fired up” about the governor’s race. In the commercial, Obama addresses an exuberant crowd as he calls on them to make a difference one more time, referring to his own success in Virginia last fall. This new television ad comes at a perfect time because the White House just announced that the President will campaign for Deeds in Norfolk, VA next week. If you did not make it to the last Obama-Deeds event, be sure to make it to this one. The rally will be held at Old Dominion University on October 27^th. Be sure to get there early because it is bound to be packed. Until then, check out the new ad. If you are like me, you will definitely be moved by this commercial. Props to whoever created this one!

-Nick

Rally in Annandale!

2009-10-20T15:53:00.009-04:00

This past Saturday I phone-banked and attended a rally for Creigh Deeds with fellow blog contributor, Nick. I was able to snap a few pictures with my cell phone for you guys! The rally was held in Annandale, VA. Deeds was joined by Governor Tim Kaine, Lieutenant Governor nominee Jody Wagner, supporters and volunteers for the canvass kickoff event in Fairfax. Volunteers knocked on doors and phone-banked all day in their communities to speak with voters about Deeds’ plan to jump-start Virginia’s economy. Among the supporters at the rally was a large number of student from the University of Michigan. The energy among the crowd was contagious, even with the light drizzle!

Phone-banking was really a rewarding opportunity. We were given the opportunity to speak with a demographic that had at sometime in their life voted Democratic, but had not voted for the past few elections. Our task was to convince these voters to make their way to the polls come Election Day. We went to headquarters in McLean, VA where we were provided coffee and cake as an additional incentive to maintain high and positive energy.

If you are interested in getting involved, phone-banking for Deeds is 9:00am - 8:00pm, seven days a week. To join the grassroots network and for canvassing opportunities, go to Deeds' website and click on the Volunteer link. Who knows, you could end up like Nick in this photo!

-Anthony

What the WaPo endorsement could mean

2009-10-19T20:26:00.004-04:00

Not all that long ago, Creigh Deeds was locked in a close three-way race for the Democratic nomination, and none of the candidates could pull ahead. Then, in advance of the election, Deeds received the endorsement of The Washington Post. That allowed him to make up some serious ground in Northern Virginia, where McAuliffe and Moran had been the stronger candidates, and propelled him to victory.

On Sunday, The Washington Post came through again. They left no doubt about it either, saying that Bob McDonnell "offers something different: a blizzard of bogus, unworkable, chimerical proposals, repackaged as new ideas, that crumble on contact with reality" while it is Deeds "whose ideas hold the promise of a prosperous future."

This could be just the boost that Creigh Deeds needed. While it won't have a big effect on the state as a whole, the Post is widely read in NoVA, where any Democrat has to win by a sizable margin. The latest polls have shown that Deeds only leads McDonnell by about five points in the north, nowhere near the levels that Tim Kaine and Mark Warner got from that part of the state. But if he can use this endorsement to his advantage (see the ad below), Deeds might be able to put himself in position for a big NoVA win on November 3, and that could be enough to make a race out of this.

-Mike

Pollster.com: Omero: Virginia update

2009-10-18T21:55:00.001-04:00

Pollster.com: Omero: Virginia update

Shared via AddThis

The Path to Success-Virginia in Context

2009-10-18T21:44:00.003-04:00

Of course Deeds still has a chance in this election. The most recent articles reflect what polls cannot tell us in elections, and that is context.

Historically Virginia, especially Fairfax County as become a bulwark of democratic politics. The past statewides have garnered some of the major name sin the Democratic party, names Virginians still remmeber.

Bob McDonnell last won by a couple hundred votes in the Attorney General's race against Creigh Deeds. Virginia will begin to turn, perhaps later than New Jersey has to Corzine, to Creigh Deeds.

As more and more voters become aware of McDonnel's record, more and more people see Deeds' Path to Success.

Ben

The Washington Post Endorsement

2009-10-18T12:52:00.003-04:00

None of us could have said it better:

A LEGACY of sound policies, coupled with the proximity of the federal government, has partially protected Virginia from the harsh retrenchments that the recession has forced on many states. Yet the commonwealth faces a daunting crisis in the form of a drastic shortfall in transportation funding, measured in the tens of billions of dollars, that threatens future prosperity. If the current campaign for governor has clarified anything, it is that state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee, has the good sense and political courage to maintain the forward-looking policies of the past while addressing the looming challenge of fixing the state's dangerously inadequate roads. The Republican candidate, former attorney general Robert F. McDonnell, offers something different: a blizzard of bogus, unworkable, chimerical proposals, repackaged as new ideas, that crumble on contact with reality. They would do little if anything to build a better transportation system.
There are plenty of reasons why Mr. Deeds is the better choice for governor in the Nov. 3 election. He has stood with Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, the incumbent, and his predecessor, now-Sen. Mark R. Warner, in support of the sane fiscal and budgetary choices that have made the state one of the best-governed and most business-friendly in the nation. Mr. McDonnell has generally spurned those policies, most notably by opposing Mr. Warner's landmark tax package in 2004, which attracted bipartisan support as it boosted public safety and education and protected the state's finances. Mr. Deeds has compiled a moderate record on divisive social issues that reflects Virginia's status as a centrist swing state. Mr. McDonnell has staked out the intolerant terrain on his party's right wing, fighting a culture war that seized his imagination as a law student in the Reagan era.

But the central challenge facing Virginia and its next governor is the deficit in transportation funding projected at $100 billion over the next two decades -- and only Mr. Deeds offers hope for a solution. Following a road map used successfully in 1986, he would appoint a bipartisan commission to forge a consensus on transportation funding, with the full expectation that new taxes would be part of the mix. Mr. McDonnell, by contrast, proposes to pay for road improvements mainly by cannibalizing essential state services such as education, health and public safety -- a political non-starter. And rather than leveling with Virginians about the cost of his approach, as Mr. Deeds has done, Mr. McDonnell lacks the political spine to say what programs he would attempt to gut, or even reshape, in order to deal with transportation needs.

Mr. Deeds has run an enormous and possibly fatal political risk by saying bluntly that he would support legislation to raise new taxes dedicated to transportation. It is a risk that neither Mr. Kaine nor Mr. Warner felt they could take. But given that the state has raised no significant new cash for roads, rails and bridges in 23 years, Mr. Deeds's position is nothing more than common sense. It is fantasy to think that the transportation funding problem, a generation in the making, will be addressed without a tax increase. A recent manifesto from 17 major business groups in Northern Virginia, calling for new taxes dedicated to transportation, attests to that reality.

Yet Mr. McDonnell, champion of a revenue-starved status quo, remains in denial. He professes to feel the pain of Virginians struggling with financial hard times. In fact his transportation policy, a blueprint for stagnation and continuing deterioration, would subvert the state's prospects for economic recovery and long-term growth. And it would only deepen the misery of Northern Virginia commuters who already pay a terrible price -- economic, personal and psychological -- because of the state's long neglect of its roads.

Gleeful Republicans, convinced that Mr. Deeds has dealt his own candidacy a lethal blow by his stance on taxes, have seized on it as evidence that Mr. Deeds is heedless of the financial strains on ordinary Virginians. A recession is no time to raise taxes, they say; never mind that any solution is unlikely to be in place until recovery is underway. Of course, these same Republicans, Mr. McDonnell included, screeched about the Warner tax increase, first calling it unneeded (during a short-lived budget surplus) and then -- when it began to look inadequate -- preferring not to talk about it. In Mr. McDonnell's view, there is never a good time to invest adequately in the state's critical infrastructure.

Mr. Deeds has been broadly criticized, not least by stalwarts of his own party, for putting too heavy an emphasis on negative ads about Mr. McDonnell and failing to make an affirmative case for himself. If so, it reflects a failure of campaign strategy and tactics, not a lack of raw material. In fact Mr. Deeds -- a decent, unusually self-effacing man who calls himself "a nobody from nowhere" -- has a compelling life story and an admirable record of achievement as a legislator from rural Bath County.

As we noted in endorsing Mr. Deeds in June's Democratic primary, his record in the legislature ably blended the conservative interests of his constituents with an agenda reflecting the prosperous, politically moderate face of modern-day Virginia. He has been a longtime champion of a more enlightened, bipartisan system of drawing voting districts, a stance to which Mr. McDonnell only recently gravitated. He has played a constructive role in economic development by shaping the Governor's Economic Opportunity Fund, which provides incentives for investors in Virginia, and he has stood for responsible environmental policies, including green jobs and alternative energy research. Despite his rural roots, Mr. Deeds has been ideologically flexible enough to support abortion rights; press for background checks on firearms buyers at gun shows; oppose displaying the Confederate flag on state license plates; and warm to equal rights for homosexuals.

As for Mr. McDonnell, he deserves credit for having run a disciplined, focused, policy-oriented campaign. As a candidate, a statewide official and a lawmaker, he has maintained a civil, personable manner. His intellectual agility, even temper and facility with the grit of policy have inspired the respect of colleagues, staffers and rivals. He is a dexterous politician.

Our differences with him are on questions of policy. The clamor surrounding his graduate dissertation from 1989, in which he disparaged working women, homosexuals, "fornicators" and others of whom he disapproved, has tended to obscure rather than illuminate fair questions about the sort of governor he would make. Based on his 14-year record as a lawmaker -- a record dominated by his focus on incendiary wedge issues -- we worry that Mr. McDonnell's Virginia would be one where abortion rights would be curtailed; where homosexuals would be treated as second-class citizens; where information about birth control would be hidden; and where the line between church and state could get awfully porous. That is a prescription for yesterday's Virginia, not tomorrow's.

Mr. McDonnell has inspired a worthwhile debate over privatizing liquor sales in Virginia, one of 18 states that control the wholesale and retail trade in spirits. But by suggesting the state could use the proceeds of privatization as an ongoing funding source for road improvements, he has played fast and loose with the facts -- first by plucking projected revenue figures from thin air and second by glossing over the question of what state services he would cut if the $100 million currently gleaned from annual liquor sales could be diverted for transportation.

Mr. McDonnell has sought to corner Mr. Deeds by focusing on debates in Washington over energy policy, labor union membership and other contentious federal issues. But a governor of Virginia can do little to influence the ideologically charged debates raging on Capitol Hill. Mr. McDonnell also has claimed he would be more effective at creating jobs. Yet while Mr. McDonnell has been an activist public servant, he has no significant record, either as a lawmaker or as attorney general, of promoting policies to encourage job growth.

Mr. Deeds, lagging in the polls, lacks Mr. McDonnell's knack for crisp articulation. But if he has not always been the most adroit advocate for astute policies, that is preferable to Mr. McDonnell's silver-tongued embrace of ideas that would mire Virginia in a traffic-clogged, backward-looking past. Virginians should not confuse Mr. McDonnell's adept oratory for wisdom, nor Mr. Deeds's plain speech for indirection. In fact, it is Mr. Deeds whose ideas hold the promise of a prosperous future.

-Mike

Editorial: No State for Old Prejudices

2009-10-15T22:22:00.001-04:00

Editorial: No State for Old Prejudices

Shared via AddThis

Deeds Outnumbers McDonnell in Yard Signs

2009-10-14T20:40:00.004-04:00

I don't know where this photo was taken, but I love how Creigh Deeds is outnumbering Bob McDonnell in yard signs! It seems like anywhere I go in northern Virginia, Deeds is outnumbering McDonnell in yard signs by a 2-1 margin. It is little things like this that make me optimistic about the upcoming election. If undecided voters continue to see that their neighbors are supporting Deeds, they too will vote for our candidate. Yard signs and bumper stickers may seem like trivial ways to support a candidate, but in many cases they can win over undecided voters. I would like to see the campaign spend more money blanketing the entire state with yard signs. Voters need to see that our candidate has a real, strong following behind him. Deep down, people want to vote for the candidate that will win. No one wants to support a loser. We need to continue to show people that Deeds is a winner. If you want to get a yard sign for your front yard or for your small business, call 1-800-562-5766 or visit deedsgear.com. By calling that number or visiting that website, you can get a yard sign for only $5 and a bumper sticker for only $2. This is a very inexpensive way to not only support the campaign, but also show voters that you are the winning candidate! Remember, elections are won on the ground!!

-Nick

Gore hosts fundraiser for Deeds

2009-10-14T14:56:00.005-04:00

According to varies news reports, former Vice President Al Gore will be in Virginia this Friday to host a fundraiser for Creigh Deeds in Mclean. This will surely help Deeds win over the more liberal sector of the Democratic Party. Liberal voters will be very important if Deeds has any shot at stopping Bob McDonnell in the next few weeks. Poll after poll has shown that Democratic voters are not as fired up about this election as Republican voters. Deeds needs the help of national Democratic leaders to remind his base how important this election is to the future of Virginia. The last eight years have seen a lot of progress in Commonwealth and it would be a shame if this were reversed if McDonnell were elected. The campaign needs more liberal leaders to come out to areas like northern Virginia to fire up Deeds’ base. While Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama may not help out in some areas in Virginia, northern Virginians may respond very well to these leaders. If Deeds can convince the national Democratic leadership to fundraise for him, the campaign might have a real shot at eking out a victory. Time will tell though.

-Nick

And the winner of tonight's debate: Creigh Deeds

2009-10-12T21:05:00.004-04:00

The first question of tonight's debate was given to Bob McDonnell. Asked if he preferred the recent economic policies of Republicans or Democrats, McDonnell provided an excellent example of blind partisanship and said that it was Republicans, at both the state and federal level, that had best moved the United States and Virginia forward. Really? George W. Bush (who oversaw the recent economic collapse and sat idly by as the gap between the rich and poor expanded at the expense of the middle class) over Bill Clinton (who oversaw the largest amount of peace time growth in our history)? Jim Gilmore over Mark Warner? If that is what Bob McDonnell honestly believes, then that is a debate that Creigh Deeds is willing to have.

Also, Deeds did an excellent job of raising the issue of McDonnell flip-flopping on the issue of bipartisan redistricting. McDonnell is a smooth talker and capable politician, and he clearly forms his position on this issue based on whichever office he is running for at that moment.

Lastly, Bob McDonnell used the word "taxes" in this debate more often than Rudy Giuliani talks about 9/11. He is consistently trying to scare voters into believing that Creigh Deeds will do nothing but raise their taxes. This is good politician-talk, but it does absolutely nothing to advance the conversation Virginians need to be having about issues like transportation, energy, and the economy. And his attacks are simply not true. You don't have to take my word for it, you can check out the independent FactCheck.org.

-Mike

Rush Limbaugh and Bob McDonnell: Moving Virginia Backwards

2009-10-12T19:23:00.004-04:00

Does Rush Limbaugh speak for Bob McDonnell? Does he speak for the Republican Party of Virginia? These are questions that those on the other side must be answer. Do they accept the political hate speech of the spokesperson for the extreme right wing, or do they want an actual debate about issues that have an impact on the lives of everyday people in Virginia?

Mr. Limbaugh decided to weigh in on the race for Governor earlier today:

Deeds is going full negative all the time, accusing Bob McDonnell, the Republican, of hating women, even though he's married to a woman.

Well now there is some excellent analysis, Rush. Clearly Bob McDonnell could not hate women, because he is married to one for goodness sake! Nevermind the facts of the matter, which of course are that Creigh Deeds never accused Bob McDonnell of “hating women.” He merely raised questions about what McDonnell saw as the role of women in society. And that is a perfectly fair question to bring up, since McDonnell’s public statements do not fall in line with what he wrote in his thesis. When a candidate for Governor writes, at the age of 34, that working women are “detrimental” to the family, the voters have every right to be concerned. And bringing such an issue into a campaign is not “going full negative,” Mr. Limbaugh. It is calling out a candidate that speaks out of both sides of his mouth on issues relating to women, gays, and unmarried couples that decide to live together. The people of Virginia need to know these things, so that they can decide whether they stand for values that we all share, such as equality for everyone, or whether they prefer the tired and backwards thinking of folks like Bob McDonnell and Rush Limbaugh. The only negativity in this campaign is coming from the right wing talking heads on conservative talk radio and the McDonnell campaign.

All of this comes in advance of tonight’s debate between the two candidates. Be sure to check back for instant analysis after its over.

-Mike

Deeds is a Virginian who does his job- McDonnel never liked his job.

2009-10-11T13:59:00.006-04:00

The newest poll to come out putting Deeds at 40% maintains what we have said before. Virginians like Deeds, he is not unliked for his views, people just want to know what those views are.

Creigh Deeds is Virginian and will always be. He is the real McCoy. Read his profile here and learn more about the man that should be running things in Virginia.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/222079

I have had enough of McDonnel not being present for his job. It looks like he has never been satisfied with his current post. He never even had time to do the job he was suppossed to be doing currently but was off doing something else.

Read this and see McDonnel at work. Deeds knows who McDonnel is, but do you?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/10/AR2009101002113.html

DEEDS WILL FIGHT FOR YOU

Ben

Creigh Deeds' Promising Promises

2009-10-08T16:19:00.005-04:00

The Washington Post published an article by Creigh Deeds where he (specifically) laid out some promises to Virginia. Among these promises included: the economy, transportation, education, and energy. In regards to the economy, Creigh Deeds has pledged to restore confidence in the economy through creating jobs (specifically through his transportation plan). Deeds is attempting to gather a bipartisan coalition to craft a transportation package. Additionally, his transportation plan aims at eliminating congestion in northern Virginia. Deeds' economic plan will also create a tax credit for every job that is created.

Next, Deeds aims at investing in Virginia's public schools to increase the education of students in Virginia. Going above and beyond that, Deeds also promises affordable college plans that include 70,000 additional degrees being awarded by Virginia colleges. To top off his education promises, he intends to increase the number of scholarships, grants, and loan forgiveness plans for students entering into college.

On a green note, to keep up with new energy technology, Creigh Deeds is planning to utilize national resources to build a virtual Energy Research Triangle and create jobs through a mandatory renewable-energy portfolio standard.

If you were waiting for Deeds to specifically attack some main issues, you got it all with this article! I highly recommend you read it. Remember, knowledge is power, people.

Click here to get the whole article.
-Anthony

Caption This

2009-10-07T21:04:00.004-04:00

Add a caption to this photo of Bob McDonnell! Funniest caption wins!

-Nick

AU College Dems Invade Virginia

2009-10-07T15:31:00.010-04:00

Saturday, October 3rd through Sunday, October 4th, American University's College Democrats sponsored an overnight trip to Virginia Beach with the attempt to keep Virginia blue. The students stayed in donated hotel rooms and complimentary food was provided. The students left campus at 8am on Saturday and returned Sunday evening. The canvassing trip proved to be a major success and an excellent opportunity to get involved.

While in Virginia, the college Dems also campaigned for Robin Abbott for the House of Delagates in the 93rd district by knocking on over 6,000 doors in one day. For their dedication and assistance, college Dems had the opportunity to meet with Robin Abbott and Governor Tim Kaine at a local rally!

It is speculated that the youth vote is critical to the Democratic chances of success for the election. Creigh Deeds is betting on the youth and AU's College Dems are helping to ensure this success.

If you're a student at American University and missed out on the opportunity to make a difference to turn Virginia blue, it's not too late! College Democrats will be canvassing every weekend. Contact Helen Boyer at audemscampaign@gmail.com or 302-893-3914 to get involved this weekend! You may even see yours truly there.

-Anthony

McDonnell Throws Mud at Fundraiser

2009-10-07T14:16:00.007-04:00

At a recent fundraiser for Bob McDonnell, Shelia Johnson, the founder of BET and a prominent McDonnell supporter, alluded to and then mimicked the stuttering of Creigh Deeds. If that was not enough, according to news sources, McDonnell spoke to the crowd shortly after Johnson’s incident and did not apologize for her behavior.

Not only has the Deeds campaign come out to condemn this type of behavior, the nonpartisan National Stuttering Association has written a blistering open letter to Shelia Johnson, but it ought to have been addressed to the entire McDonnell campaign for condoning her remarks. In the letter, the NSA points out that stuttering “has nothing to do with intelligence, temperament or leadership ability.” Given this, it should go without saying that Johnson's remarks have no place in this campaign. Not only has the NSA come out to respond to Johnson's remarks, but members of the media have also acknowledged that this type of behavior is uncalled for. According to a fundraising email from the Deeds campaign, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said McDonnell needs to "stop the personal stuff, NOW!" In the same email, David Shuster of NBC is quoted as saying, making fun of someone’s stuttering is “just disgusting.”

It seems that whenever Deeds tries to focus on the important issues facing Virginians, the McDonnell campaign starts throwing mud. This stuff has no place in the campaign and should not be tolerated. We need to let McDonnell know that residents of the Commonwealth will not condone this negative campaigning.

-Nick

DNC Gives $1 Million to Deeds

2009-10-07T13:46:00.006-04:00

In case you missed it, a couple of days ago Politico reported the Democratic National Committee is committing another $1 million to Creigh Deeds’ campaign! As the story notes, this is in addition to the $5 million the national party already gave the campaign last month. Clearly the national party recognizes what Virginians have been recognizing for weeks: Deeds is on the path to victory!

The article accurately observes that after the DNC’s first donation, Deeds surged from being behind by more than a dozen points to being just outside of the margin of error in many polls. With these additional funds, Deeds will be able to continue to broadcast his plans for the future of the Commonwealth to undecided voters.

While the article also points out that the Republican National Committee gave $7 million to McDonnell’s effort last September, it is important to remember that despite these funds, McDonnell lost ground in the polls all last month. Also, when you consider that Deeds outraised McDonnell in July and August, it is no wonder the RNC has had to pour outside money into the race. Virginians have shown that they are not willing to buy what Bob McDonnell is trying to sell them. No matter how much the national party throws at McDonnell and his campaign, it is clear that Virginians are not interested in a man like Bob McDonnell.

Check out the entire article here

-Nick

Creigh Deeds needs Mark Warner

2009-10-05T18:27:00.000-04:00

With polls showing that Bob McDonnell's lead has bounced back up and steadied, there is reason for concern within the Deeds campaign. However, it is important to remember that Creigh Deeds still has the most valuable weapon in this election: Mark Warner.

Warner, the former Governor and current United States Senator, remains extremely popular in Virginia. Unbelievably popular, in fact. The most recent polls show that more than 60% of Virginians have a favorable view of him, and less than 30% have an unfavorable view. Deeds would be wise to tie himself to Warner as much as possible.

The two men campaigned together today in Northern Virginia. Warner was also featured recently in an ad on behalf of Deeds, in which he reminds voters of his outstanding record as Governor:

This really is Deeds' best shot to make up ground. There are still plenty of voters that remain undecided. McDonnell has done an excellent job of attracting moderates, but those are exactly the type of voters that Warner appeals to. If the Deeds campaign can use him appropriately over the course of the final month, Mark Warner's popularity will be enough to give him a bounce. But unfortunately, Deeds will need more than just the Warner bounce if he is going to catch up.

-Mike

What does Deeds need?-TIME TO GET SPECIFIC

2009-10-04T16:53:00.000-04:00

The race is starting to fade to those not in the region. Virginia has many complex issues and Creigh Deeds has a good message that can carry him through the race. If he does not get his act together following the first debate and get specific, then he may not realize the full potential of his message.

The Democratic National Committee ahs brought Deeds and infusion of resources in the waning weeks of the campaign to help his campaign retool. A retooling may be in order but only as long as Virgina understands what a vote for Creigh is. The responsibility lies with the campaign to tell Virginians that Creigh and the Deomcrats are the way forward and will get federal funds for roads to quell traffic in Northern Virginia.

The McDonnell campaign is trying to make the race national in scope and harping on what the campaign says are 33 spending plans by the Deeds campaign. Deeds can come out now and finally tell his story and make sure McDonnell does not contorl the conversation.

Deeds is not out becuase Virginains are confused about him but not yet distrustful or unwelcoming to his message. Let's hope that in coming weeks Deeds figues out McDonnell is playing the same political cards and that the true message of the Democrats is the right one for Virginians.

Washington Post Fact Checker article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/03/AR2009100302797.html

Hampton Roads article about DNC financial infusion:
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/more-dnc-deeds

McDonnell's new ad:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/10/mcdonnell_launches_new_tv_ad.html

Most recent trend in the Virginia Governor's Race:
http://www.pollster.com/polls/va/09-va-gov-ge-mvd.php?xml=/flashcharts/content/xml/09VAGovGEMvD.xml&choices=McDonnell,Deeds&phone=&ivr=&internet=&mail=&smoothing=&from_date=&to_date=&min_pct=&max_pct=&grid=&points=&trends=&lines=