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Sen. Creigh Deeds laughs at the color of a pitcher of beer Sen. Creigh Deeds talks about his Democratic primary campaign during a visit yesterday to downtown Fredericksburg. |
BY MEGAN WILLIAMS
Between talking about his stance on land conservation and green jobs, Creigh Deeds stopped to ask C.J. Majeska about the strange hue of his beer.
"Is that red beer?" Deeds asked. "What is that made of, cranberries?"
Majeska laughed and said no, that it was horrible, but only cost him $4 a pitcher.
Majeska was one of the Sammy T's diners that Deeds stopped to chat with during his stop in downtown Fredericksburg yesterday.
It had been a long day. Deeds is one of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, along with Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe. He began his day in Washington, D.C., where he interviewed with Mark Plotkin on WTOP.
Deeds had just come from Arlington and was traveling to Richmond for the night. But the long hours on the road didn't stop him from easily striking up conversation with almost everyone he came across.
He talked about his home in Bath County with Fredericksburg attorney Lanny Shortridge, who was familiar with the area. He talked about horseback riding with Amy Marie and Angela Hall, and laughed at Hall's donkey key chain.
Deeds shook hands and told people he'd appreciate their consideration next Tuesday.
Deeds walked along Caroline Street, unconcerned about the rain, with Del. Albert Pollard of Lancaster County. Pollard made sure that Deeds stopped to talk with former Fredericksburg Mayor Bill Beck at his antiques store.
Deeds stopped to pet Beck's dog and talk with him about his river house, which Beck was leaving for, heading there to check for flooding. The two also talked about traffic problems on Interstate 95.
One of Deeds' main issues is improving transportation and using it as a means for creating jobs in Virginia.
The goal, like that on most of his stops during the campaign, was to get his name out to voters, he said. But the notoriously low turnout rate for primaries didn't seem to concern Deeds.
"It all depends on turnout," Deeds said. "If the right people turn out, we'll win."
Deeds didn't specify who the right people were but did say that during a visit to his hometown, population 4,800, more people supporting him came out than did for another candidate in an area with a population almost 100 times that of Bath County.
He said that a recent endorsement by the Washington Post hasn't necessarily caused a surge in his campaign but has "bolstered his advancement" in an area in which he knew he couldn't afford to campaign as effectively: Northern Virginia. He said that to get the support of a paper that is in the backyard of his opponents was a boost for his campaign.
"One candidate came in and thought it was his," Deeds said. "And another came in and thought it was his for the taking."
Recent polls have indicated that this is any candidate's race to win, each are within the others' margins of error.
The winner of Tuesday's primary will face Republican Bob McDonnell in November. McDonnell, a former attorney general, won the GOP nomination without opposition at a state convention.
Megan Williams: 540/374-5000, ext. 5779
Email: mewilliams@freelancestar.com
