Issues shortchanged in Democratic candidates' debate

WILLIAMSBURG

The three Democrats running for governor aired plenty of differences about their qualifications but few over specific issues during their first debate on Sunday.

The three - state Sen. Creigh Deeds, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and former Del. Brian Moran - reserved their sharpest words for each other's fundraising efforts in a 90-minute exchange at the College of William and Mary.

"We will not be the party of the middle class if we are beholden to Donald Trump or to tainted defense contractors who have received millions of earmarks...," Deeds said. "We have lost our way if we allow the Wall Street culture or the corrupt political establishment to dictate our agenda for the next four years."

Deeds was referring to recent disclosures that Trump, the mega-developer, made a $25,000 contribution to McAuliffe and that Moran had received donations from defense contractors that had business before a congressional panel that his brother - U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, D- Va. - serves on.

Moran said it should not be surprising that contractors are taking an interest in his campaign. "These are Virginia companies with Virginia employees that are protecting Virginians overseas and at home," he said.

McAuliffe made no comment about his donation from Trump, one of many he has received from prominent out-of-state sources he cultivated as DNC chairman. McAuliffe raised $4.2 million in the first quarter of the year, well over twice the combined totals of Moran and Deeds.

McAuliffe said his fundraising prowess would come in handy this fall in a general election race against former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, who is unopposed for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. He noted that Virginia and New Jersey are the only states holding gubernatorial races this year and predicted McDonnell will receive huge sums from national Republican sources.

About 80 percent of the money McAuliffe has raised this year came from outside Virginia, a pattern that Moran criticized.

"Terry's fundraising in places I've never been: Park Avenue, Hollywood," Moran said.

Each of the three portrayed himself as the most qualified candidate.

Deeds sought to position himself as a champion of the working class, noting that his wife works and they have raised four children. Moran said he has the deepest experience working in Virginia government, citing his background as a prosecutor and his years as chairman of the Democratic caucus in the House of Delegates. McAuliffe said he is best qualified to create jobs in Virginia, saying he had decades of experience starting up companies around the nation.

On issues, the candidates largely echoed one another. All said they support the death penalty.

They also all support closing a loophole that allows people to buy firearms at gun shows without undergoing background checks. Moran and McAuliffe oppose legislation that would allow concealed weapons in bars; Deeds supports it.

All three said they voted against a 2006 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Virginia. Moran said he would fight to repeal the amendment. McAuliffe, however, noted that the amendment has broad public appeal and said it would be senseless to try to expunge it.

"As governor, I want to focus on the things I can change, like creating jobs," he said.

None of the candidates dismissed the possibility of raising the gas tax to generate money for transportation. McAuliffe, however, seemed the one most reluctant to take that step, saying, "In a down economy, you don't want to be taking money out of people's pockets."

The debate was sponsored by the Farm Team, an organization seeking to promote the election of women in Virginia. Four more debates are scheduled before the June 9 Democratic primary.

Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com