Posted on 10/13/2009 10:22:26 AM PDT by freespirited
Two new polls -- one conducted for the Washington Post and one for the Richmond Times-Dispatch -- show former state attorney general Bob McDonnell (R) opening up a high single digit lead over state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D) with less than a month remaining in the Virginia governor's race.
The polling reflects Democrats' increasingly negative view of their chances of pulling off a third straight victory in the Commonwealth and Republicans' optimism that a state that has swung heavily against them in recent years is moving back in their direction.
But, since no race is ever over until all the votes are counted, we spent the weekend picking the brains of smart party operatives who have worked in Virginia to get their perspective of whether a path to victory remained for Deeds.
The conclusion? Yes, sort of....
Deeds allies insist that the candidate's underperformance in northern Virginia and among black voters could be solved by an Obama visit in the final weeks ... "It's not just a Northern Virginia play -- he'd help in Hampton Roads and Richmond too," explained one senior Democratic source with extensive knowledge of the state. "People who don't like Obama won't vote for Creigh, anyway. So there's no downside to bringing him in."
But, as always in politics, it's not that simple. It's not clear whether Obama and his political team -- who carefully protect his brand -- will be willing to return to campaign with a candidate who is struggling to stay within shouting distance of his Republican opponent just weeks before the vote....
Deeds allies are quick to note that he has closed strong in both his 2005 race for attorney general and his 2009 Democratic primary victory for governor. True enough. But, with every passing day, Deeds's path to victory narrows.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
But the race is still McDonnell's to lose.
How will WaPo’s endorsement help Deeds?
Hopin’, hopin’, hopin’. I don’t think their endorsement is a deal-breaker anymore. And I know their endorsement isn’t why he won the primary. He won the primary because his opponents were so lame. That is the not the case this time around. So far McDonnell has avoided the macaca moment, despite the Post’s best efforts to invent one.
Unfortunately history shows just how influential the Post is on how Northern Virginians vote.
Deeds was dead meat in the primary until the Post endorsed him. It was a game changer (I disagree with the poster who says otherwise.) We saw the same thing in a NOVA local race; the RAT was expected to win easily till the Post endorsed the Republican, who then eked out a victory.
While at a Festival in West Point Virginia. The Deeds people paraded a sign about health care. I didn't see an opponents sides banner and noticed them indeed on all the lawns and on the Festival celebrants (save for the Deeds folks themselves).
In Leesburg a Pastor told me that Virginians are fight mad, being Told what kind of health care they will be given. Virginians don't like being Told anything; they don't like Tyrants.
It would seem some of the WaPo’s maccaca has left a stench on its hand picked candidate. Too bad - So Sad. Hey WaPo keep you dirty little paper in DC where it belongs.
A Compost endorsement this time is actually worthless. The single digit lead is now 9% which was 8% last week. So Dirty is losing support. His performance in debate #3 did not help him at all.
Agreed. McDonnell needs to just stay on topic and keep hammering Deeds on his raise-taxes double-talk and lack of results for the state.I saw the debate last night on PBS.Deeds is weak and easily rattled.McDonnell can and will win this.
The WashPo’s endorsement won’t mean squat, the vast majority of voters in VA, both those who support Deeds and those who support McDonnell, know fully well the paper’s obvious bias towards the Dem candidate.
I gave up on the debate when I noticed my brain cells were dying off in droves. Deeds is out of his league, I think.
I would normally agree,but there’s a lot of buyers’remorse out there this time around.I really don’t think Deeds can seal the deal,even with the ComPost’s help.
Oh,yeah. Deeds is like Zero..hard to listen to,and even moreso without a teleprompter.It was kinda like the Saddleback Forum.
Besides...McDonnel has a Robert Redford face and smile....the ladies all love him!
He is a bit attractive,at that.And,he speaks well.
I am a transplanted Virginian, grew up south of here.
I say Sic Semper Tyrannis, and I cannot be moved with this Tar on my Heels.
http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/ for Governor
http://www.billbolling.com/ for Lieutenant Governor
http://www.cuccinelli.com/ for Attorney General
The Arlington-Sun Gazette endorses McDonnell
ARLINGTON- The Sun Gazette newspapers today endorsed Bob McDonnell for governor of Virginia. The two Sun Gazette papers cover Arlington, McLean, Vienna, Oakton and Great Falls. [Arlington and Fairfax Counties] The endorsement editorial notes:
“McDonnell has the solid backing of the business community, which fears Deeds could become a tool of unions and environmentalist fringe groups, wrecking the bipartisan effort that has maintained the Old Dominion as one of the most business-friendly states of the 50. McDonnell has a plan for transportation upgrades; Deeds urges us merely to trust him to come up with a solution.”
http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2009/10/13/arlington/opinion/acmt755.txt
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