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Virginia Democratic candidates hold rally at UMW Date published: 10/18/2009
BY BILL FREEHLING Virginia needs to invest in higher education to make college more affordable for state residents, gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds told a crowd yesterday afternoon at the University of Mary Washington. Deeds, a Democrat, will face Republican Bob McDonnell in the Nov. 3 election. Deeds headlined yesterday's rally, which also included remarks by lieutenant governor candidate Jody Wagner and attorney general candidate Steve Shannon. Gov. Tim Kaine also appeared. About 125 people attended the rally, which was held in Lee Hall. UMW's Young Democrats Club organized the event. The candidates urged their supporters to do everything they could in the next 17 days to get people to vote for the Democrats. Deeds was the last of the four current and past Democratic candidates to speak. His remarks focused on a plan to have the state pay up to 50 percent of college tuition for students who commit to two years of public service afterward. The plan, called the "Virginia Forward" scholarship program, would allow Virginia high school students who have at least a B average to get a 50 percent scholarship to a state university in exchange for doing two years of public service after graduation. "It gets people on the path to public service," Deeds said. He also advocated stricter high school graduation standards and improved teacher quality and pay. He said it's time to get serious about fixing transportation, and he called for jobs in renewable energy. Deeds wrapped up his remarks by addressing the fact that he trails McDonnell in the polls. He said he's no stranger to being in that position, but said he knows how to close a gap in the final stages of a campaign. Shannon, who is opposed by Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli, was the first of the three statewide Democratic candidates to speak yesterday. He focused his remarks on his days as a Fairfax prosecutor working on cases involving children who were victims of violent crimes. Shannon said the job of the attorney general is to keep Virginians safe, not to promote a cultural agenda. He noted that gangs in Virginia are getting worse, and said that needs to be addressed.
publicity guys and other handlers..there were more politicians than students at the show...hmm..that does not look too promising
Ok,
Why are the dems bringing out the big guns for va?
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