Creigh Deeds was the 2009 Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia. He had been a Virginia state senator since 2001, and was the Democratic Party's nominee for attorney general of Virginia in 2005. He announced his candidacy for governor on December 13, 2007, in an online video. His primary opposition for the Democratic nomination was former Virginia House of Delegates member Brian Moran and former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe. Deeds won the nomination by a large margin, taking about 50 percent of the vote in the June 9, 2009 Democratic primary.2009 June Democratic Primary Unofficial Results , Virginia.gov. Retrieved on June 10, 2009 However, Deeds lost the gubernatorial race held on November 3, to Bob McDonnell, 41.25% to 58.61%.
Background
Creigh Deeds had been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1991 to 2001, and had been a member of the state senate since he won a special election in the 25th district in 2001.
Positions
Deeds cast himself as a centrist upon entering the race, due to his stances on gun control, the death penalty, and gay marriage.
Key personnel Joe Abbey - campaign manager Brooke Borkenhagen - communications director Peter Jackson - senior communications advisor
Primary campaign
Timeline
Deeds announced his candidacy in December 2007. He was soon joined by Delegate Brian Moran, who announced on January 3, 2008.
Initially, Deeds built up momentum, having lost the race for attorney general in 2005 by just 323 votes. His strategy was to campaign to the governor's mansion through his position in the Virginia State Senate by proposing several favorable legislative actions, including a measure to give a $10,000 tax credit to businesses that made "job creating investments", and eliminating the sales tax on renewable energy purchases.
Deeds picked up several major endorsements early in the race, such as The International Police Union and (then) Charlottesville Mayor David Brown.
Deeds, along with fellow gubernatorial candidates, participated in the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association dinner.
Deeds was prohibited from raising funds during the 2009 session of the Virginia General Assembly. It was difficult for him to campaign, as he was predominately on the Senate Floor a majority of the time during the session. Deeds returned to the campaign trail in March and began his "Commonwealth Conversations Tour". His campaign made stops in Bristol, Roanoke, and other cities.
Deeds announced his first quarter fundraising totals on April 9, 2009. Due to the fact that he participated in the legislative session, his fundraising totals were less than those of McAuliffe and Moran. Deeds raised approximately $600,000, compared to $800,000 by Moran and $4.2 million by McAuliffe. Deeds reported that he had $1.2 million cash on hand, compared to Moran's $824,000, and that 97% of his contributions came from in-state, compared to 90% for Moran and 18% for McAuliffe.
In early May 2009, Deeds laid off several campaign staffers, in order to keep airing television ads. After the layoffs, he had 25 staffers across the state and six offices in Charlottesville, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Roanoke, Southside and Northern Virginia.
In late May 2009, Deeds began gaining momentum, according to various polling results. This was due in part to the Washington Posts endorsement of Deeds on May 22.
Polling Source Dates administered Terry McAuliffe Brian Moran Creigh Deeds Survey USAJune 830%21%42% Public Policy PollingJune 6–726%24%40% Suffolk University June 420%20%27% Daily Kos/Research 2000June 1–326%27%30% Survey USAMay 31 June 235%26%29% Public Policy Polling May 28–3124%22%27% Public Policy PollingMay 19–21, 200929%20%20% Daily Kos/Research 2000 May 18–20, 200936% 22% 13% Survey USA May 17–19, 200937% 22% 26% Public Policy Polling May 1–3, 200930% 20% 14% Survey USA April 25–27, 200938% 22% 22% Research 2000 April 6–8, 2009 19%24% 16% Public Policy Polling March 27–29, 2009 18%22% 15% Public Policy PollingFebruary 28–March 1, 200921%19%14% Public Policy PollingJanuary 30–February 1, 200918%18%11%
In early results of the three polls taken of the primary race, Deeds registered at third place. He was also the only candidate prohibited from campaigning due to the January/February session of the General Assembly, which took him off the campaign trail. The March poll by Public Policy Polling (PPP) showed Deeds at 15%, 3 points behind McAuliffe's 18%, and 7 points behind Moran's 22%. Deeds also led with independent voters 21%19% over Moran, according to the PPP poll released on March 31, 2009.
During late May 2009, several polls showed Deeds gaining ground. These included Survey USA, showing Deeds at 26%.Deeds at 26%
The first time Deeds led in a poll after Terry McAuliffe's entrance was on June 2, 2009, when PPP announced the results of its second-to-last primary poll. It showed Deeds leading with 27%, followed by 24% for McAuliffe and 22% for Moran.
Grassroots support Deeds maintained thorough grassroots support throughout the 2009 campaign. This included ground support at debates as well a rallies and phone-banks throughout his' campaign offices. He maintained his campaign headquarters in Charlottesville, where the campaign organized phone banking and other activities.
Deeds offered blogger "badges" to identify blogger support for his campaign. Several prominent Virginian bloggers endorsed Deeds, such as Kenneth Bernstein, Alan Zimmerman, and others.
Advertising Deeds' campaign manager Joe Abbey announced the campaign's decision to go on air via an email sent to supporters. This email contained a link to an ad, as well as a link to donate to "Contribute... To keep Creigh's ad on the air", in his words. The same day, the Deeds Campaign announced their decision to purchase air time on four major media markets: Bristol, Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Roanoke, Virginia
The two campaign advertisements, entitled "Education Story" and "Most Qualified", feature Deeds and others in front of a white background, with a narrator discussing Deeds' issues/plans.
June 9 primary
The State of Virginia held its primary election on June 9, 2009, with polls open from 6 am to 7 pm. Turnout was expected from anywhere between 185,000 to 300,000.
Not Larry SabatoNot Larry Sabato projected in Crystal Ball, Creigh Deeds winning the Democratic primary at 7:29 PM, followed by FiveThirtyEight.com at 7:45, as well as the Associated Press around the same time.
Deeds won handily, amassing approximately 50% of the vote, to McAuliffe's and Moran's 26% and 24%, respectively. Deeds won in most geographic areas of the Commonwealth, including winning Arlington over Moran 47%-37%, and winning Virginia Beach over McAuliffe 46%-33%. Deeds won 10 out of Virginia's 11 congressional districts, including the one held by Moran's older brother, Congressman Jim Moran.
General election campaign
Timeline After gaining the Democratic nomination, Deeds appeared alongside Governor Tim Kaine and former opponents Moran and McAuliffe at a Democratic Unity Event. Deeds also appeared with fellow running mates Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon in Williamsburg, Virginia, along with Senators Warner and Webb.
Throughout August, Deeds started a campaign tour entitled "Deeds Country" designed to garner votes from traditionally Republican swaths of the state. While this tour was praised by some, like Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling, it was scorned by several Democratic bloggers such as Miles Grant, who said, "how many Obama voters are going to be fired up (ready to go) when they see Deeds driving a gas-guzzler down dusty rural roads?"
As the campaign headed into late August and early September, Deeds ranked further and further down in the polls, with PPP (D) showing Deeds -7%, Rasmussen showing -9%, and SurveyUSA showing -12% (see below). However, The Washington Post broke news of a graduate school master's thesis written by Bob McDonnell calling working women "detrimental" to the traditional family and criticizing the "purging" of religion from schools. Deeds and other Democrats began attacking McDonnell on his thesis, and several polls started showing the race tightening up. By mid-September, Rasmussen Reports had Deeds behind 48%–46%, while the Washington Post had him losing 51%–47% (see below).
However, Deeds' campaign failed to generate much traction, and was criticized for going too "negative". Many prominent Democrats close to the White House criticized Deeds for allegedly running away from President Obama. With anonymous Obama administration officials bashing Deeds for his lack of "coordination" with the White House and for straying from the favored campaign strategies of the president and incumbent governor Kaine, Deeds lost the general election 59%–41% to Bob McDonnell.
Fundraising Fundraising periodMoney raisedMoney spentCash on hand September 3.5 Million USD 5.1 Million USD 2.77 Million USD July/August 3.48 Million USD 5.3 Million USD 4.4 Million USD
Polling
Source Dates administered Creigh Deeds (D) Bob McDonnell (R) SurveyUSA October 17–19, 2009 40% 59% Public Policy Polling October 16–19, 2009 40% 52% Clarus Research October 18–19, 2009 41% 49% CNU-Pilot-WVEC October 19, 2009 31% 45%Rasmussen Reports October 12, 2009 43% 50% October 6–8, 2009 40% 48% Washington Post October 4–7, 2009 44% 53% Survey USA October 2–4, 2009 43% 54% Rasmussen Reports September 29, 2009 42% 51% Survey USA September 26–28, 2009 41% 55% Public Policy Polling September 25–28, 2009 43% 48% Insider Advantage September 23, 2009 44%48% Washington Post September 20, 2009 47%51% Research 2000 September 14–16, 2009 43%50% Rasmussen ReportsSeptember 16, 2009 46% 48% Clarus Research GroupSeptember 16, 2009 37% 42% Survey USASeptember 3, 2009 42% 54% Rasmussen ReportsSeptember 1, 2009 42% 51% Public Policy PollingAugust 28–31, 2009 42% 49% Washington PostAugust 16, 2009 40% 47% Rasmussen ReportsAugust 10, 2009 38% 47% Research 2000August 3–5, 2009 43% 51% Public Policy PollingJuly 31 August 3, 2009 37% 51% Survey USAJuly 27–28, 2009 40% 55% Rasmussen ReportsJuly 14, 2009 41% 44% Public Policy PollingJune 30 July 2, 2009 43% 49% Research 2000June 15–17, 2009 44% 45% ALR June 10–14, 2009 42% 38% Rasmussen Reports June 10, 2009 47% 41%
The first poll released after Deeds secured the nomination by Rasmussen Reports had Deeds leading over Republican opponent Bob McDonnell 47%-41%. In the same survey, 42% said Deeds was more likely to win, while 34% said the same about McDonnell.
A Survey USA pollSurvey USA poll released in July showed McDonnell beating Deeds 55%–40%. However, this poll was cited as inaccurate by several, including Public Policy Polling, another polling firm.
Results These results were current as of 1:30 PM Eastern on Thursday, November 17, with 100% of precincts reporting. McDonnell received the highest percentage of the vote for governor out of any candidate since 1961.l He won the majority of the vote in all age groups, and bested Deeds in both the Asian and White demographics by large margins.
Endorsers
Newspapers Bristol Herald Courier of Bristol, Virginia Martinsville Bulletin of Martinsville, Virginia The Washington Post of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Virginia state senators Senator Henry Marsh (D) of Petersburg Senator A. Donald McEachin (D) of Henrico County Senator Chap Petersen (D) of Fairfax Senator Phil Puckett (D) of Lebanon, Virginia Senator Roscoe Reynolds (D) of Martinsville Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw (D) of Fairfax Chairwoman of the Democratic Caucus Mary Margaret Whipple (D) of Arlington County
Virginia mayors Fmr. Charlottesville Mayor David Brown (D) Fmr. Richmond Mayor Walter T. Kenney (D) Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris (D)
Unions Fairfax Coalition of Police Fairfax Deputy Sheriffs Coalition Virginia Education Association
Members of Congress Virginia's 9th congressional district Congressman Rick Boucher
Governors