Deeds, McDonnell debate gets heated

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By Sarah Abruzzese

SALEM, Va | Virginia's gubernatorial candidates clashed over transportation, the economy, health care and social issues Tuesday night in the most combative of their four debates with two weeks remaining until Election Day.

Democratic candidate R. Creigh Deeds resumed a line of attack he began during a debate last week in Richmond, repeatedly accusing his Republican rival, Robert F. McDonnell, of undergoing an "election year conversion" after spending years in the General Assembly attempting to advance a socially conservative agenda.

"Virginia needs a governor in these trying times who will focus on the big issues," Mr. Deeds said. "Bob McDonnell has spent his career as a legislator focusing on social issues."

Mr. McDonnell similarly returned to a theme Republicans have used repeatedly in the campaign, charging that Mr. Deeds would need to raise billions of dollars in taxes to pay for his plans to upgrade transportation infrastructure, especially in Northern Virginia.

"He's making promises he has no way to pay for," Mr. McDonnell said.

The first half of the hourlong debate took the form of a conversation between the moderator and the candidates. The format allowed the candidates to engage each other, each several times interrupting the other to challenge characterizations of their plans and proposals.

Mr. Deeds, who has been behind in recent polls, was especially aggressive, but both men leveled stinging shots.

When Mr. Deeds was asked what taxes would be raised under his administration, Mr. McDonnell quickly said, "I can answer that."

"No, you can't answer that," Mr. Deeds fired back.

The debate, which took place before an audience of about 400 people at Roanoke College, was the final debate of the gubernatorial campaign. The appearance was widely seen as crucial to Mr. Deeds' chances of closing a persistent gap against Mr. McDonnell in the polls.