Terry McAuliffe is training his guns on R. Creigh Deeds in the finale to the Democratic gubernatorial primary, saying that Deeds' pro-firearms stance makes him unelectable against Republican Bob McDonnell.
McAuliffe, in a telephone interview this morning after an appearance at an African-American church in Hampton Roads, also said Deeds is weak for the fall campaign because he's backed higher fuel taxes for transportation improvements.
Deeds, meantime, is using automated telephone calls to Northern Virginia voters to fend of attacks by McAuliffe and the third candidate for the nomination, former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, accusing the pair of "lying about [his] voting record" as a state senator from rural Bath County.
McAuliffe, saying that his focus on jobs is resonating with primary voters, shifted his message somewhat over the weekend, declaring that he has the best chance of defeating McDonnell in November.
"The other big issue is electability, and Bob McDonnell has already beaten Creigh Deeds," said McAuliffe, referring to McDonnell's 360-vote victory over Deeds for attorney general in 2005. It was the closest statewide election in Virginia history.
McAuliffe, whose schedule today included get-out-the-vote events in Roanoke and Bristol, suggested Deeds would be thrown on the defensive in the general election for his comparatively conservative stance on gun rights.
McAuliffe referred to Deeds' opposition in 1993 to a law restricting Virginians' handgun purchases to one per month -- McDonnell favored the bill -- and the senator's vote in an attempted override of vetoes in 2008 and this year by departing Gov. Timothy M. Kaine of legislation allowing concealed weapons in bars.
"Bob McDonnell has already beat him, and he beat him [on] issues -- and he can do it again," said McAuliffe, who on Saturday generated about $200,000 for his campaign at a fundraiser at his McLean house that featured an appearance by former President Bill Clinton.
Deeds, surging from third to a statistically insignificant first in some published polls, is using so-called robo-calls to deflect criticism of his record on guns by depicting his position on firearms as similar to those of Sens. Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb, both Democrats.
Warner and Webb, as candidates, expressed reservations about expanding gun control. However, as a candidate for governor in 2001, Warner expressed doubts about allowing weapons in bars.
"We're certainly going to address these attacks," Deeds press secretary Brooke Borkenhagen said of McAuliffe's swipe today.
McAuliffe said his broadside on Deeds is not a sign of trouble; that the contest remains close into the stretch.
"We knew it would tighten once Creigh went on television and he was able to fill in the blanks," said McAuliffe.
Borkenhagen countered that assaults on Deeds by McAuliffe and Moran indicate her candidate is ahead, and that voters perceive him as a better match against McDonnell, in part, because of a Republican-leaning rural base that requires a bow to gun rights.
"Creigh has the broadest appeal," she said. "Republicans are quaking in their boots right now that Creigh will win."
Moran is campaigning today at rallies in Martinsville, Roanoke and Arlington County.
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