Deeds outraises McDonnell

A sizable outpouring from small donors similar to what delivered Virginia for Barack Obama in 2008 has helped Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds outraise his opponent for the last two reporting periods.

The Democrat raised $3.5 million in the most recent one, eclipsing the total of former Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, who raised nearly $3 million, according to campaign-finance records released and collected by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.

Mr. McDonnell retained his cash-on-hand advantage.

In addition to several large donations from big-ticket donors, 68 percent of the Deeds campaign donors gave less than $200.

“Over the last weeks, we’ve seen a surge of grassroots support for Creigh Deeds,” campaign manager Joe Abbey said in announcing the numbers. “Virginians know that there’s a stark choice in this election between moving Virginia forward with Creigh Deeds and moving backwards with Bob McDonnell.”

Mr. Deeds raised more money during the fundraising period that ran between July 1 and Aug. 31 than any Democratic or Republican candidate raised in 2005 or 2001.

His donors included Washington Capitals and Mystics owner Ted Leonsis, who gave $37,500; real estate executive Robert H. Smith, who gave $25,000; former CarMax CEO Austin Ligon, who gave $15,000; Trader Publishing President Conrad Hall, who gave $15,000; and former Democratic National Committee chairman - and Mr. Deeds’ defeated primary opponent - Terry McAuliffe, who gave $25,000.

The McDonnell campaign received large donations from NewMarket Corp. founder Bruce Gottwald Sr., who gave $50,000; Paul Jones II of Tudor Investment Corp., of Greenwich, Conn., who gave $50,000; developer-builder William Royall Jr. of Royall & Co., in Richmond, who gave $50,000; private investor Edward Via of Roanoke, who gave $50,000; Clifford Asness, founder of AQR Capital Management, of Greenwich, Conn., who gave $25,000; and Howard and Susan Groff of Northwest Excavating, in Northridge, Calif., who together gave $50,000.

The Deeds campaign was able to attract 2,284 new donors, giving it a total of 3,453 donors during the period. The McDonnell campaign had 4,946 new donors and a total of 6,239 donors for the period.

Mr. McDonnell’s campaign manager, Phil Cox, touted the Republican’s higher number of donors.

“With a significant advantage in our cash on hand and nearly 2,500 more donors than our opponent, we have great momentum and are in a strong position for the final 50 days of this campaign,” Mr. Cox said. “The fact that we have nearly 2,500 more donors than Creigh Deeds is reflective of the grassroots energy we have seen building throughout our campaign. It is clear that Virginians are rallying behind Bob’s positive message of new jobs and more opportunities. They continue to demonstrate this through their continued contributions, phone banking and door-knocking.”

Mr. McDonnell retains his cash-on-hand advantage with $5.8 million in the coffers, while the Deeds campaign reported that it has $4.4 million.

The Deeds campaign has spent $5.3 million, nearly $2 million of which was spent during this past period.

In a poll of likely votersconducted by the nonpartisan District-based firm Clarus Research Group and released Tuesday, Mr. McDonnell was ahead of Mr. Deeds 42 percent to 37 percent.

With just two gubernatorial races in the country this year, the national parties have committed noticeable resources to the Virginia candidates.

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