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Deeds and McDonnell hold final debate of gubernatorial campaign Date published: 10/21/2009
In their last debate two weeks before the election, Virginia's gubernatorial candidates clashed again over familiar themes of transportation, a college thesis and federal legislation.
Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds faced off in a debate in Roanoke, sponsored by local NBC station WSLS. Moderators Jay Warren, a WSLS anchor, and Robert Denton, a Virginia Tech professor of political communications, pressed both men on some of their campaign claims through a format that allowed more follow-up questions than debates often do. Transportation was the first question of the hourly debate, and Deeds was pushed to explain what Deeds didn't declare a specific tax but said he meant taxes that are tied to people using transportation networks. McDonnell was asked how his transportation plan is viable, given that many of the aspects of it have failed in the General Assembly. He said some of his proposals "have been tried and failed, but not with the leadership of a governor" and that he knows transportation is "going to take a bipartisan solution." Deeds also took some heat for his claim that McDonnell as a legislator has pushed for 35 bills restricting abortions. He actually sponsored only eight--the rest were other legislators' bills he signed on to--and those mostly involved banning partial birth abortion or requiring parental consent for minors to get abortions. Deeds stuck by the 35 number and said McDonnell's record on social issues is important because it helps highlight what Deeds characterized as an "election year conversion" from a legislator focused on social issues to a candidate pretending to be more interested in economic development. "Virginia needs a governor in these troubled times that will focus on the big issues, will focus on jobs and the economy. Bob has spent his career focusing on social issues," Deeds said. "The thesis is relevant because it puts into context Bob's record. He never wrote a bill to create a job, he never wrote a bill to create an educational opportunity, it helps explain why he's been so focused on social issues." Asked whether he'd push for more abortion restrictions as governor, McDonnell seemed to say no.
A survey just released by Public Policy Polling the Republicans lead by double digits in all three statewide races.
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