Governor candidates begin last dash to race’s end

Sensing a winner, out-of-state high rollers are pumping fistfuls of cash into Bob McDonnell's gubernatorial campaign, while Democrats suggest Republicans and their allies are outspending R. Creigh Deeds on television nearly 2-to-1.

While burning through millions of dollars on advertising, mail and voter mobilization in the run-up to Tuesday's election, the candidates yesterday dashed through the Richmond area, reaching out to key constituencies.

Deeds, waving off polls that show him trailing McDonnell by double-digits, stopped at a Fan District coffee shop to talk up higher education with a crowd of about 60 that included students from nearby Virginia Commonwealth University.

"People look at the polls and say, 'Deeds, you're toast'," said the Bath County senator, accompanied by son Gus and daughter Amanda. "If I quit anywhere along the path, I'd be back home shoveling manure."

At a diner in western Henrico County, McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who is seeking a second term, opened a 25-stop tour of the state, warning more than 100 supporters from the Republican-leaning suburb against overconfidence.

"Act like we're 10 points behind," McDonnell said.

Ken Cuccinelli, the attorney general candidate, joined the Republican ticket in Danville.

Meantime, fresh fundraising and spending reports screened by the Virginia Public Access Project, an online watchdog of money in state politics, show McDonnell harvesting big checks from gambling, property and hedge-fund figures.

And Deeds campaign estimates showed that McDonnell and his supporters -- including the Republican Governors Association, the National Rifle Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- have spent at least $8.1 million on TV commercials, compared with $4.3 million by Deeds.

McDonnell took in $25,000 from Donald Trump, the New York-based real estate and gambling impresario who backed Terry McAuliffe for the Democratic nomination, and $20,000 from Dr. Miriam Adelson, an internist who is the wife of Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson.

Also, $50,000 from Paul Tudor Jones II, a Greenwich, Conn., financier and University of Virginia alumnus whose family paid for a new arena at the school that bears its name.

McDonnell collected $20,000 from Wal-Mart Stores, a company in the forefront of the battle against federal legislation making it easier to unionize the workplace -- a measure loudly opposed by McDonnell.

He received $50,000 from InTrust Wealth Management in Wichita, Kan.

Deeds also landed big donations this week, including $10,000 from the American Federation of Government Employees, $50,000 from International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and $22,011 from NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC.

Deeds, who appeared with President Barack Obama at a rally in Norfolk Tuesday, got additional help from the president yesterday -- this time, a letter to 330,000 new voters inviting them to back Deeds.

"Creigh Deeds is the governor we need to continue the progress made by Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and he is the partner I need in Virginia to help put our country back on track," wrote Obama, referring to the Democratic governors Deeds hopes to succeed.

Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, joined the GOP ticket in Henrico. The RNC has given McDonnell's campaign more than $2.2 million.

Steele said the election should not be viewed as a referendum on the Democratic agenda, but rather a reflection of GOP emphasis on jobs and the economy.

"Tuesday is a bellwether and the bell's going to ring for Tim Kaine and Barack Obama," Steele said.

Kaine, Steele's counterpart at the Democratic National Committee, traveled to New Jersey yesterday to stump for Gov. Jon Corzine, who is seeking re-election in a tough, three-way race.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or .

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .

Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .