UPDATE: Candidates look to tomorrow's debate to sharpen distinctions

By: By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO | Times-Dispatch
Published: September 16, 2009

Virginia's gubernatorial candidates are looking to tomorrow's debate in Northern Virginia as another opportunity to sharpen distinctions in a race shaped, so far, by national crosscurrents.

A top strategist for Democrat Creigh Deeds, Mo Elleithee, says his candidate -- still lagging in the published polls -- expects to spend a "significant amount of time talking about Bob McDonnell."

Elleithee, who spoke with reporters in a telephone conference call this afternoon, also says Deeds will address issues that directly affect Virginians, such as education and transportation.

Phil Cox, McDonnell's campaign manager, said in an e-mail that the Republican will have a lot to say about those topics during the face-off before the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. But, Cox adds, "it's no surprise Mr. Deeds doesn't want to talk about himself."

Cox then rolled out what's become the Republican take on Deeds: that he's too close with organized labor, having taken big contributions from union interests, and that he's a big spender, pushing for millions in budget amendments that, Deeds says, would finance the priorities of both candidates, including higher teacher salaries.

Elleithee says there's fresh momentum for Deeds, the evidence of which is Deeds' recent edge in fundraising and an independent poll showing Deeds trailing by only 5 percentage points.

While Deeds collected more money than McDonnell in July and August, the Republican has $1.5 million advantage in cash on-hand. As for polling, previous surveys have shown Deeds back 7 percentage points to 12 percentage points.

Elleithee also says Deeds would welcome President Barack Obama back to Virginia. Anti-Obama headwinds, largely rooted in anxiety over the economy, are generally acknowledged by Democrats and Republicans as holding back Deeds.

"There is a tendancy to nationalize this race," says Elleithee. "Ultimately, this race will be decided on Virginia issues, not national issues."

Among those state issues: McDonnell's controversial law-school thesis in which he was sharply critical of working women, unmarried couples, gays and contraception. McDonnell is disavowing some of his claims from the 1989 paper, which he wrote as a student at Pat Robertson-founded Regent University.

UPDATE: Candidates look to tomorrow's debate to sharpen distinctions

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