Candidates for governor clash on taxes, Obama

Democrat R. Creigh Deeds last night blasted Republican gubernatorial rival Bob McDonnell as a “smooth talker” who runs from his conservative roots, while McDonnell tied Deeds to the disputed policies of President Barack Obama.

Appearing in their first debate on statewide television and radio, the candidates sparred over veracity and civility in politics but broke little new ground on the issues that have defined their increasingly bitter contest—a contest that the latest polls show McDonnell still leading.

Deeds, a state senator from Bath County looking for traction in the final three weeks of the race, again fended off McDonnell’s claims that he has no plan for fixing the cash-starved transportation system, other than raising taxes.

“The boogeyman he’s going to raise every time is taxes,“ Deeds said of McDonnell.

Deeds, who has not ruled out higher taxes, said he would first seek bipartisan consensus on highway spending among lawmakers, business leaders and other interests.

McDonnell, a former attorney general and a former delegate from Virginia Beach, again insisted his no-new-taxes approach can work, and that raising billions through debt-financed bonds and the sale of state liquor stores is a viable remedy for roads.

Of additional taxes, McDonnell said, “Our families can’t afford it. Our businesses can’t afford it. Our seniors can’t afford it.“

The one-hour debate, which originated from the Chesterfield County studios of WCVE public television, was largely civil, though Deeds on at least two occasions accused McDonnell of lying about the Democrat’s record, including inaccurately depicting Deeds as a supporter of federal cap-and-trade legislation opposed by industry.

“Candidate McDonnell is a smooth talker,“ said Deeds, alluding to McDonnell’s controversial 1989 law-school thesis in which he is critical of working women, contraception and gay people.

After the debate, Deeds was asked about his claims that McDonnell had lied. “Maybe that was too strong a word for a debate format, but the fact of the matter is, he’s a one-trick pony,“ Deeds said. “He keeps telling the same untruths over and over again.“

McDonnell later told reporters, “I think we need more civility in politics. And I don’t think we need name-calling.“ He said it is “really below the dignity” of a gubernatorial prospect to allege that his opponent is lying.

McDonnell, who has sought to depict himself as a common-sense centrist despite his political origins as a religious, social and cultural conservative, attempted to deflect questions about such hot-button issues as discrimination against gay state employees.

McDonnell would not say whether he would renew an executive order protecting gays from workplace bias within Virginia government, though he acknowledged saying, as attorney general, that such a decree by departing Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was illegal.

McDonnell also took a swipe at Obama-initiated health-reform legislation in Congress, depicting it as a possible threat to Medicaid, a health and medical program for seniors. But McDonnell repeatedly linked Deeds to two other Obama initiatives that trouble business: cap and trade and a proposal potentially making it easier to unionize the workplace.

The debate was sponsored by the League of women Voters and AARP and was moderated by Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent of “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” on PBS.

A Richmond Times-Dispatch poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. last week puts McDonnell ahead of Deeds 48 percent to 40 percent, with 12 percent undecided.

In a pre-debate conference call, Deeds strategist Mo Elleithee said there are still plenty of places where Deeds can pick up votes.

Deeds is also looking to another possible appearance by Obama to energize some of the voters who allowed him to carry the state in 2008—the first Democrat to do so for president in 44 years.

McDonnell, meanwhile, will attempt further inroads among traditional Democrats. Today he holds a “Women for McDonnell” rally in Northern Virginia with Sheila Johnson, billionaire co-founder of BET who usually supports Democrats.

Johnson recently apologized for publicly making fun of Deeds’ stammer.

The candidates, who have made numerous joint appearances at forums, will debate once more. That event, Oct. 20 at Roanoke College, will be broadcast live by WSLS.