The end of an expensive, nasty and lopsided Virginia governor’s race draws near as candidates Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds on Monday started a final push to whip up support across the commonwealth.
Republican McDonnell looked to cement his advantage with seven campaign rallies, book-ended by stops in Alexandria, close to his childhood home, and Virginia Beach, where he started his political career. At a get-out-the-vote rally in Bristow, he offered the closing argument for his candidacy that appealed directly to his conservative base, pledging more “innovation and consolidation and privatization” in government.
The Republican nominee fell back on a football metaphor to mobilize supporters.
“We’re below the two-minute warning. In fact, we’re down to 30 seconds on the clock,” McDonnell said.
The former state attorney general reaches Election Day heavily favored in polls to become the next governor. A McDonnell win would end a two-term streak for Democrats in the executive mansion and prove a major setback for a state Democratic party that has steadily increased its clout over much of the past decade.
Deeds, a rural state senator, visited Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond and Alexandria alongside Gov. Tim Kaine, hoping to reinvigorate 2008 Obama voters seen as crucial to a come-from-behind victory.
Poll hours: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Number of precincts: 2,363
Registered voters: 4,958,559 On the ballot: Governor – Democrat Creigh Deeds vs. Republican Bob McDonnell Lieutenant governor – Democrat Jody Wagner vs. Republican Bill Bolling Attorney general – Democrat Steve Shannon vs. Republican Ken Cuccinelli 100 House of Delegates seats Source: Virginia State Board of Elections
“What we’ve got to do, is we’ve just got to close that gap, we’ve got to energize President Obama’s supporters,” said Kaine, also chairman of the Democratic National Committee, during an appearance on MSNBC Monday.
Kaine, at a Richmond rally, pressed the attack on McDonnell’s social views, touching on a common theme throughout the campaign. The governor accused the Republican nominee of cloaking his conservative stances by running as a moderate.
The governor’s race had cost $53 million as of Oct. 21, a total that continues to grow as the candidates pull in late donations, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
