Rural Virginia represents needed region for Deeds
By: William C. Flook
Examiner Staff Writer
November 1, 2009
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| Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Virginia State Sen. Creigh Deeds. left, is greeted by supporter Susan Moriarty, of Woodbridge, Va., during a campaign stop at Cheesburger in Paradise restaurant in Woodbridge, Va., Oct. 30, 2009. ((AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)) |
When Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds started a push into the state’s rural stretches three months ago, the campaign believed it had a candidate who could not only offset damage in the traditionally Republican areas, but actually win them.
A day before voters head to the polls, those regions remain just as essential for the Democratic nominee, but increasingly appear to be slipping through his fingers. Deeds, with a series of rural campaign stops over the weekend, signaled that he couldn’t afford to let Republican Bob McDonnell score heavily in back roads counties.
But polls suggest the state’s traditional conservative belt in the south and southwest is poised to follow its long-standing loyalties. And Democrats, though far from giving up on rural voters, have sharply curbed their optimism.
“You can still pick up pockets here, absolutely,” Gov. Tim Kaine told The Examiner at a rally Friday night in Floyd.
“We’re not taking anything for granted. The fact [is] that Creigh would be the first governor from western Virginia in quite a while.”
Deeds made a name as a moderate, pro-gun state senator from Bath County whose stances made him an appealing statewide
Democratic candidate for downstate voters. When he ran for attorney general in 2005, it was Deeds — not McDonnell, also his opponent then — who won the endorsement of the National Rifle Association. The NRA this year has thrown its support behind McDonnell.
BY THE NUMBERS: McDonnell widens lead in waning days of race
A Richmond Times-Dispatch poll released Sunday showed McDonnell with a 12-point lead over Deeds, with an advantage in every region in the state except Northern Virginia.
» Northern Virginia
Deeds: 50 percent
McDonnell: 45 percent
(5 percent undecided)
» Shenandoah/Piedmont
Deeds: 29 percent
McDonnell: 67 percent
(4 percent undecided)
» Richmond metro
Deeds: 37 percent
McDonnell: 53 percent
(10 percent undecided)
» Hampton Roads
Deeds: 43 percent
McDonnell: 51 percent
(6 percent undecided)
» Lynchburg/southside
Deeds: 37 percent
McDonnell: 58 percent
(5 percent undecided)
» Roanoke/southwest
Deeds: 40 percent
McDonnell: 52 percent
(8 percent undecided)
