Virginia gubernatorial candidates Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds took the gloves off in a heated debate Saturday — their first one-on-one face-off of the general election campaign.
McDonnell, a Republican and Virginia’s former Attorney General, and Deeds, a Democratic State Senator from Bath County, sparred over topics including transportation, education and energy in the debate hosted by the Virginia Bar Association at the Homestead Hotel in Hot Springs.
McDonnell confronted Deeds with the notion that he only offers a “wish list” in his goal to fix Virginia’s transportation system, rather than a concrete plan.
“You outlined a wish list, but not one dime for transportation,” he said.
Deeds hit back by accusing McDonnell of “robbing Peter to pay Paul” with his plan.
“I will not fund transportation on the back of public education,” Deeds said.
McDonnell, in keeping with the jobs theme he has used as a central part of his platform, also took the opportunity during the debate to attack the federal government’s cap-and-trade climate change legislation, which he said would hurt Virginia manufacturers.
“My whole campaign is based on jobs and opportunity,” he said.
Deeds said that the campaign was a choice between a candidate with a record and a plan and one that wants to go back to failed economic policies of the past.
“We can’t go back; we have to go forward,” he said.
The debate also touched briefly on social issues such as abortion, gun rights and gay marriage. Both McDonnell and Deeds accused the other of being “outside the mainstream” on abortion, with Deeds pointing out that McDonnell introduced 35 bills that would restrict abortion during his career. Deeds was endorsed by pro-choice group NARAL in the 2005 attorney general’s race, and recently picked up the endorsement of reproductive health organization Planned Parenthood.
In their closing statements, each candidate highlighted recent endorsements they received from current and former lawmakers. Deeds touted the support of eight former state senators and delegates, and McDonnell mentioned the endorsement of Black Entertainment Television co-founder Sheila Johnson, a huge Democratic donor who supported current Democratic governor Tim Kaine.
“Creigh Deeds is a good man,” said McDonnell. “He’s a good family man… none of this is personal. It’s about ideas.”
