Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Obama lends stature to campaign
The president appeared in Norfolk to throw his support behind the gubernatorial candidate.
Associated Press
While a rally in Norfolk was designed to galvanize Creigh Deeds' supporters, many people said they were there to get a glimpse President Obama — not to see the candidate for governor.
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From The Roanoke Times
NORFOLK -- Creigh Deeds is hoping the kind of energy President Obama generated among a crowd of 5,700 Tuesday afternoon is contagious enough to overcome polls suggesting that he trails Republican Bob McDonnell and needs long presidential coattails to drag him to victory on Nov. 3.
Obama told thousands of adoring supporters at Old Dominion University to set aside their cynicism and help put Deeds in office.
"A lot of people are saying polls don't look the way we want them to," Obama said. "I don't believe in giving up. I don't believe we would turn our backs on the progress that Tim Kaine has made here in Virginia. I am absolutely confident that we can if you are willing to work in this last week."
The visit to ODU was the second time Obama stumped on behalf of Deeds during this campaign -- earlier this year, he joined Deeds and Gov. Tim Kaine at a rally in Northern Virginia.
A similar cast was onstage Tuesday.
Also speaking were the Democratic candidates for attorney general and lieutenant governor, Steve Shannon and Jody Wagner.
While the event was designed to galvanize Deeds' supporters, many people said they were there to get a glimpse of the president -- not to see the candidate for governor.
"We love Obama," said Norfolk resident Ed Neukrug, who took his daughter Emma, 10, out of school to attend the rally. "It's a real opportunity to see the president."
People at the event and those interviewed in nearby neighborhoods Tuesday said they weren't as enthused about electing Deeds as they were about Obama a year ago.
Perhaps Obama returned to Virginia too late, Neukrug said.
"You have to wonder what would have happened if he had come earlier," he said.
Others said the attraction to Deeds isn't as strong.
Helen Brownlee, who lives a short walk from the arena where the rally was held, said there's been little neighborhood chatter about this year's race.
People waited hours to get inside and hear Obama speak; at one point the line stretched more than three blocks.
But not everyone outside was an Obama fan.
Several dozen members of the Hampton Roads Tea Party stood on the sidewalk waving signs bearing slogans such as "Yes He Lied And We Want America Back."
One of the sign-wavers, Mark Ackermann, expressed dismay about Obama's leadership.
"We're here to save the future of our country," said Ackermann, from Hampton. "We feel we're being pushed into a socialist state. We feel like people are being blindly led into something."
Despite the presidential assist, Deeds' odds of winning appear to be long.
For the past 32 years, Virginia has elected a governor from the party opposite the person in the White House.
A report released Tuesday by Public Policy Polling found that as Election Day draws nearer, the percentage of people polled who describe themselves as Democrats and likely voters has dwindled. While 94 percent of Republicans polled said they plan to support McDonnell for governor, just 84 percent of Democrats polled said they will vote for Deeds.
In addition to polling deficits, Deeds faces strong political headwinds.
The lingering recession has left many uneasy about their livelihoods.
Also hurting him are federal debates about spending, health care and climate change that have seeped into this race. McDonnell has exploited those divisions during the campaign.
Polling indicates those conditions seem to have reduced Obama's popularity in Virginia, a state that helped put him in the White House last year.
Deeds urged those at the rally to ignore speculation that his campaign is over.
"I need your help to drag out every vote we can," he said.
