Deeds shifts campaign gears, changes tone

RICHMOND

Lagging in polls and facing criticism from some Democrats about his strategy, Creigh Deeds is trying to refocus his campaign with just over two months until Election Day.

The effort began Friday with what his campaign called a "major address" - a 21-minute speech repeating themes he's discussed throughout the race: education, transportation and economic development.

Tone is what made this delivery different.

Deeds strove to connect with voters by weaving anecdotes about his humble country upbringing into the narrative.

"I grew up on a farm and my family didn't have much," he told an audience at George Mason University in Fairfax. "I knew poor, but I was fortunate enough not to know hunger."

Deeds cited a teenage job at a summer camp for disadvantaged children as a pivotal moment in shaping his outlook:

"At lunch, this little 9-year-old boy looked up at me and asked, 'You mean we eat more than once a day here?' "

"That opened my eyes, and my heart," Deeds added. "I realized in that moment that the world wasn't perfect, that right here in Virginia there were people who were hurting and kids who went to bed hungry."

Deeds also sought to contrast his message with that of Bob McDonnell, his Republican opponent, who he repeatedly jabbed but never mentioned by name.

"I want a Virginia where progress, respect and equality prevail, not one separated by politicians with narrow social agendas," he said. "We can't move forward when we are led by those who make division and personal crusades the priority over common good."

Predictably, the McDonnell campaign and GOP groups labeled Deeds' effort a failure.

"That was the most backwards-looking speech ever given by a Virginia gubernatorial nominee," McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin said in a statement. "If Creigh Deeds thinks blowing the dust off an old political playbook amounts to a major new announcement, he doesn't get what the voters of Virginia are looking for in their next governor."

University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato gave the speech a passing grade, but no high marks.

"It's fine as far as it goes," he said. "He's obviously going to try to continue to paint McDonnell into a right wing, conservative corner. And he tried to broaden the pitch to Democrats of all stripes. He was trying to connect with people who don't know him."

The real challenge for Deeds, Sabato added, is national political headwinds that seem to be blowing against Democrats.

Deeds campaign officials proclaimed the speech a success during an afternoon conference call with reporters.

"Creigh today effectively said to Virginians, 'Here's what's at stake,' " said Mo Elleithee, a senior adviser to Deeds. "Despite all this noise and all this discussion in the media about whatever the national environment may be, there is a lot at stake here in Virginia. And you could not have two more different candidates on these issues."

Also Friday, Deeds' campaign announced that its first television commercial of the general election is airing across the state. The spot focuses on Deeds' economic vision, touches on tax credits for job creation and implicitly links McDonnell to the fiscal policies of former President George W. Bush.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com