I’m stunned and very impressed: The Washington Post has endorsed Creigh Deeds for governor. In a long, detailed editorial running in tomorrow’s issue, they spell out why “Mr. Deeds may not be the obvious choice in the June 9 primary, but he’s the right one.” He’s “politically astute,” “in a unique position to persuade rural legislators,” “has a solid record of promoting green jobs, land conservation and alternative energy research,” and “understands Northern Virginia.” The editorial board repeatedly points out that he has a record of doing the things that Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe promise to do, which there’s a lot to be said for, concluding that “he has the character, experience and savvy to be a successful leader of the entire commonwealth.” They appear to share my distaste for McAuliffe, and likewise share my belief that Moran isn’t a bad guy, but he’s no Creigh Deeds.
These are a few of my favorite bits:
Some progressive voters may look past Mr. Deeds, assuming he’s too far to the right on social issues. They should look again.
Democratic voters may wonder: How can Mr. Deeds beat presumptive Republican nominee Robert F. McDonnell, who beat Mr. Deeds in the attorney general’s race four years ago? The answer: Mr. Deeds lost by a scant 323 votes out of roughly 2 million cast despite being outspent 2 to 1.
In 18 years in the General Assembly, Mr. Deeds has time and again supported measures that might be unpopular with his rural constituency but that are the right thing to do, for Northern Virginia and the state as a whole. He has demonstrated an understanding of the problems that matter most, the commitment to solve them and the capacity to get things done.
As the two DC-area candidates, this is a huge blow to McAuliffe and Moran. Honestly, it never crossed my mind that the Post would be able to look past upstate to endorse anybody other than these Beltway candidates. More than anything else, I think this speaks to Sen. Deeds’ strong qualifications for the nomination and for the job of governor. I’m just so glad that the Post sees him the same way.
A nice surprise — let’s hope the Post’s readers in Northern Va pay attention before it’s too late.
Well done, WP. If Deeds gets the nomination, Virginia will be guaranteed a terrific governor, no matter what happens in November.
Creigh has momentum! I hope there’s enough time, and hope the momentum is great enough, to make it count on primary day.
I’d be hard-pressed to think of a bigger endorsement in this election. I don’t know how many votes it’ll move, but at the very least voters tired of the Brian/Terry tit-for-tat will have a reason to take another close look at Sen. Deeds. Hopefully they’ll like what they see.
This matters, because there are a lot of NoVA voters who have basically been deciding between Terry and Brian, and will not consider Creigh, and Creigh actually has a chance if he can bump up his NoVA total, and pick up the undecideds/leaners there.
At this point, I still prefer McDonnell, but Deeds is head and shoulders above Moran, and a mile above McAullife.
While McAulffe and Moran have been keying in on each other, Creigh Deeds has been focusing on people and issues in the same way that has made him successful as a legislator in Richmond.
This is clearly a momentum shifter in the primary race!
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It gives me the warm fuzzies to see a candidate that can really bring people from across the political spectrum together. On some issues, Creigh is too far to the center/right for me, but in a purple state like Virginia (and I think it’s still purple, even if it went for Obama) I think that’s probably a good thing.
I think Creigh would – and hopefully, will – make an awesome governor. If he doesn’t win this primary, does anyone know what his plans are next? I remember reading that he decided some years ago that he would run for Governor this year, whether he won or lost the AG race in 2005. As in, he made a schedule of some sort, and decided, Governor’s race in 2009. Not Attorney General in 2009. Even if he loses AG in 2005. Does anyone know what the thinking was there?
I really, really like Creigh. And I’m glad that folks I don’t normally agree with like him, too. We need candidates like Creigh in Virginia who are centrist enough overall, with strong stances on certain issues – some to the left, some to the right – so that lots of folks have something to be enthusiastically positive about.
Plus, Creigh’s overall personality and personal characteristics make him just so likeable, and that’s refreshing and great to see. He comes across as a real servant-leader, not on a power trip. He just seems like a mensch. I don’t know him personally, though I have met him, and I just have nothing but positive experiences. Even though I don’t agree with him all the time.
Gosh, I hope he wins. I’m going to go give him another fifty bucks now. Every bit helps!
This is great news for the Deeds for Virginia crew! Makes me even more pumped about canvassing tomorrow!
What’s this about canvassing tomorrow?
Do you live in the Charlottesville area (or anywhere in Virginia for that matter…)? We are meeting at the Charlottesville office at noon tomorrow and going to canvass Charlottesville and parts of the county. Afterwards, you’ll have the chance to meet Creigh when he walks the downtown mall with David Toscano.
We would love your help sometime!
Go ahead and email me at reed@deedsforvirginia.com if you can help out any time with phoning or canvassing.
FWIW, I’m in the same boat. Purely on the issues, I’d definitely be a Moran guy. But, of course, there’s more to consider about a candidate than his beliefs.
Waldo, did you take this photo of Creigh? It’s on his Wikipedia entry, and I noticed it was taken in Charlottesville, and it’s here on your site, so I’m guessing it might be yours? Nice photo!
I did take it. It’s not a particularly flattering angle, or moment (w/r/t his expression), but it’s become ubiquitous by virtue of being the only photo of Creigh (that I know of) that’s provided under an open license that allows free reproduction.