The entire summer, it was as if Bob McDonnell could do no wrong, and Creigh Deeds could do no right. To recap:
– Sheila Johnson, one of Tim Kaine’s largest supporters, both financially and logistically, rejects Deeds’ policies, endorses Bob
– Virginia Farm Bureau spurns Deeds’ good ole Southern boy roots, endorses Bob
– National Federation of Independent Business rejects Deeds’ economic growth policies, endorses Bob
– Repeated criticism of Deeds’ lack of message, substance and revolving message of the week results in double digit poll deficits against Bob, including as high at +15 from the Washington Post
At the end of the summer, Deeds thought he had found a silver bullet, Bob McDonnell’s thesis, which would save the campaign, justifying Deeds’ hammering on social issues. Indeed, polls showed an inevitable tightening of the race, which some would point to the thesis as having an impact (erroneously)
However, then September began, and thus far? Those long days of summer have simply continued for Deeds:
– NRA rejects Creigh Deeds’ leftist gun rights policies, switching their 2005 endorsement from Deeds to McDonnell
– Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, days after Deeds’ disastrous debate performance on their sponsored stage, rejects Deeds policies, specifically his lack of a transportation plan, endorses Bob
– FOP, having endorsed Mark Warner in 2001, rejects Deeds talking out of both sides of his mouth, endorses Bob, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli
– And to cap off Deeds worst week of the campaign, despite repeated pleas from Tim Kaine and President Obama, Governor Wilder rejects Deeds’ pro-tax agenda as well as his leftist gun views, declining to endorse either candidate, releasing a statement slamming Deeds in the process
Unfortunately for Deeds, with Wilder opting out of endorsing, he has no counter to this week’s onslaught of bad news.
If Deeds thought this summer was bad for him, September has shaped up to be even worse. And besides more widening poll gaps, what else will October hold for him?
