Deeds campaign trims staff

The gubernatorial campaign of state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds has hit a few bumps on the road to the Democratic nomination.

On Saturday, an SUV driven by the candidate from Bath County rear-ended another vehicle in Louisa County.

And yesterday, campaign officials acknowledged that they have had to trim some campaign staff to help finance more TV advertising in the run-up to the June 9 primary.

Deeds' vehicle crash occurred about 6:10 p.m. as he was heading home for Mother's Day weekend after a campaign event in Fredericksburg. Two of the four passengers in the vehicle struck by Deeds were taken to the hospital, treated for minor injuries, and released.

Deeds, who drives a 2002 Ford Explorer with 308,000 miles, was not hurt. The county Sheriff's Office issued him a $30 summons for following too closely.

Sheriff's Maj. Donald A. Lowe said Deeds told deputies on the scene that he tried to stop, but his brakes did not respond properly, causing him to run into the back of the vehicle.

"It appeared to be a mechanical problem," said Lowe. "He was very concerned about what happened. He wanted to make sure everyone was OK."

Meanwhile, campaign manager Joe Abbey said a "handful of our staff members" were let go recently.

Officials did not specify the number let go but said Deeds continues to maintain six offices throughout the state and has 25 paid staffers.

Dumping staff in the homestretch of a contested primary election is generally not considered a sign of a campaign's financial strength.

But "in a primary with such a high number of undecided voters, the reality is that television is the most efficient way we can communicate with voters," said Abbey.

Deeds recently began airing two commercials in the Richmond, Bristol, Roanoke and Hampton Roads media markets, joining Terry McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, as the only Democratic candidates on television in advance of the primary.

Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or .