Democrats debate electability issue

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Terry McAuliffe is training his guns on R. Creigh Deeds in the finale to tomorrow's Democratic gubernatorial primary, saying Deeds' pro-firearms stance makes him unelectable against Republican Bob McDonnell.

Deeds, responding last night at a Richmond rally, said: "Terry McAuliffe's just desperate. And it's just sad."

McAuliffe, in a phone interview yesterday after an appearance at a black church in Hampton Roads, also said Deeds is weak for the fall campaign because he has backed higher fuel taxes for transportation improvements.

Deeds, meanwhile, is using automated phone calls to Northern Virginia voters to fend off attacks by McAuliffe, a resident of McLean and a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, 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 during the weekend by declaring 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.

"Ask Terry how many elections he's won," Deeds said last night after addressing about 60 supporters at a backyard rally at the Richmond home of longtime Democratic activists Jim and Kelly Nachman.

Deeds, making one of 16 stops in a three-day span, said the 2005 contest proved he can beat McDonnell and can win statewide. Deeds said Virginia was "more Republican" in 2005 and that McDonnell outspent him 2-to-1.

McAuliffe, whose schedule yesterday 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. He also noted the senator backed an attempted override of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's vetoes in 2008 and this year 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 automated, so-called robo-calls to deflect criticism of his record on guns by depicting his position on firearms as similar to those of U.S. 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.

Deeds said his stances on guns are nothing new.

"I'm a middle-of-the-road guy. I'm the only moderate in this [primary] race, and I'll be the only moderate on the ballot in November, too."

McAuliffe said his broadside on Deeds is not a sign of trouble and 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," McAuliffe said.

Deeds press secretary Brooke 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.

"This is within grasp," Deeds told supporters at the backyard rally, but he said "it only happens if you continue to lift me up and make this possible."

Moran campaigned yesterday in Martinsville, Roanoke and Arlington County.

"The trend lines are all moving in the right direction, and we are closing hard with momentum at the right time," Moran's campaign manager, Andrew Roos, said in a statement.

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

Politics editor Andrew Cain contributed to this report.