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Virginia democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds delivers his message during a campaign stop at UMW.
Creigh Deeds (background) listens to Gov. Tim Kaine during a stop at UMW's Lee Hall. |
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.
Next up was Wagner, who is running against incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling. Wagner highlighted what she called Bolling's poor attendance record at meetings over the past four years. She called for new jobs, better education and transportation solutions.
Kaine then introduced Deeds. He said his administration has successfully guided the state through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and called for a Deeds victory "to keep it going in the right direction." He blamed the lack of improvements in transportation during his term on the Republicans "gumming things up." He took a swipe at McDonnell's 1989 master's thesis that said working women were detrimental to families.
Laura Sellers and Doug Filler, candidates for the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, also attended yesterday's rally.
The UMW rally was part of a busy day of campaigning for Deeds, who also held events yesterday in Richmond, Fairfax, Falls Church and Annandale.
McDonnell's day included a morning rally focusing on veterans in Virginia Beach with Sen. John McCain. McDonnell also held campaign events yesterday in Norfolk, Poquoson, Glen Allen and Richmond.
Deeds and McDonnell will meet Tuesday for a televised debate starting at 7 p.m. at Roanoke College in Salem.
President Obama will campaign with Deeds in Virginia on Oct. 27. Former president Bill Clinton will campaign with Deeds at noon Tuesday at an event in McLean.
Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com
