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August 2009

2009 Virginia Governor's Race: Deeds Campaign Goes After McDonnell on Choice

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Creigh Deeds has been strong for Choice for a long time--he spoke with us about it in 2001, when he was considering a run for the 25th District Senate seat following Emily Couric's death.

It is on social issues that he differe most, and most clearly, from his opponent, Republican Bob McDonnell. And this week his campaign for Governor tees up Women's Choice as the featured subject, with appearances around the state and supporting blasts in email and on the campaign website.

From the Deeds for Virginia blog

Bob McDonnell and Creigh have very different views concerning a woman’s right to choose. Creigh believes it is up to a woman, her family, her doctor and her spiritual advisor to make this decision. Our opponent believes government should make this decision, and supports outlawing a woman's right to choose even in the case of rape or incest.

But this is about more than just one issue. It’s about priorities

In the state legislature, Bob McDonnell sponsored not one, not twenty, but thirty-five bills restricting a woman’s right to choose. Think about that for a minute. Thirty-five bills—at least one a year, usually more.

The specific charge is not just that McDonnell is terminally regressive on this and other issues, but that he is monomaniacal, devoting an excessive part of his energies to social issues. And, subtext, wouldn't you rather have a governor who is focused on the economy etc.?

So despite some discussion between the campaigns about avoiding these divisive issues, and despite strong unease within the Democratic Party about embarking upon an uncharted course--it has traditionally been the Republicans taking the offensive in using abortion rights and gay marriage as political poker chips--the lid is off.

The calculation seems based on a couple of strategic points. For one, Deeds is way behind in all the polls. Campaigning on relatively small differences on matters like transportation, school improvement and the green future will not move the needle.

McDonnell seems to have been successful so far in presenting himself as a modest, moderate sort of fellow, while maintaining strong support from the right wing of the party, who give time and money and are likeliest to vote in a low-turnout affair. This thrust will pressure McDonnell to reiterate his long-held positions and be painted into a corner--question being, how big is the corner?

The state is changing, and the vote-rich urbs and suburbs of NOVA are polling for choice while at the same time seem less concerned over these issues in their politics. So while there may be a benefit to Deeds in opening this line of attack, it must be kept at a moderate level.

(Dave Sagarin, August 10, 2009)

Comments? Questions? Write me at george@loper.org.