Is Creigh Deeds Getting the Message ?

I have complained numerous times about my frustration with the failure of the statewide Democrat ticket in Virginia, and Creigh Deeds in particular, to reach out to various communities within the Democrat tent. This is especially true of the LGBT community which to my knowledge has seen almost no outreach whatsoever. Finally, some Deeds staffers have begun some weekly outreach to the LGBT community in Hampton Roads (although so far not to the LGBT business community), but this should have begun immediately after the primary election, not months later. The problem with all three Democrat candidates doesn't appear limited to the Hampton Roads area as evidenced by a story from Northern Virginia, a must win area for any Democrat who hopes to be elected. While Bob McDonnell's thesis has energized some, much more excitement and enthusiasm needs to be generated by all three Democrat candidates. Here are some highlights:

*

Alexandria is Brian Moran territory, and everybody knows it. During this summer’s gubernatorial primary, city voters overwhelmingly supported their hometown candidate — the younger brother of a former mayor and longtime congressman. Perhaps that’s why some say Creigh Deeds’ campaign for governor has been having a hard time gaining traction in the city. Or perhaps it’s because the campaign has been slow to reach out to local elected officials."For some reason, there seems to have been a lack of sensitivity to Northern Virginia," said Mayor Bill Euille, who has yet to be asked for a formal endorsement. "But that’s being resolved."

*

ALEXANDRIA DEMOCRATS say the strategy session at the mayor’s house over the weekend was a step forward in terms of the campaign reaching out to local elected officials and party regulars. But even if the Deeds organization is listening, that doesn’t mean campaign officials are taking the advice. Some Democrats have expressed criticism of the campaign’s strategic decision to wait until the final weeks before Election Day to roll out paid campaign communications such as television advertising and direct mail solicitations.

*

They say that the Deeds campaign is certain to win in Alexandria, and that the turnout in Northern Virginia could be critical to the outcome of the election. Many Democrats point to Bob McDonnell’s 360-vote margin of victory over Deeds in the 2005 attorney general race as an indication of how close the race is likely to be — and of how important get-out-the-vote operations are likely to be in Northern Virginia.

*

Despite his post election failures to deliver on campaign promises, Barack Obama DID reach out to ALL of the communities under the Democrat tent and the three statewide candidates need to do so as well. And they need to get into high gear immediately. They cannot depend on votes solely because they are not the extremist slate fielded by the GOP.