Obama to Belatedly Campaign for Creigh Deeds

UPDATED: President Obama appeared today at the ODU Constance Center and urged voters to get involved and support Creigh Deeds in the race for governor of Virginia. I just wish that Obama had done more of this type of event sooner. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:

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President Barack Obama urged a crowd at Old Dominion University to help Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds come from behind Tuesday to win the governor's race. . . . Conceding that the race is tight, Obama pressed voters to continue the Democratic trend in the governor's mansion and choose Deeds to succeed Timothy M. Kaine and Mark warner.

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ODU student Monique Goodman of Windsor has been waiting in the damp since 11 a.m. today with three of her friends. "I want to see my president," she declared. She admitted that until she heard of Obama's upcoming visit, she didn't know anything about Deeds and she's not sure she'll vote for him. “I don’t think as many people are interested in the election this year as last year," she said.
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The comments of the quoted ODU student are sad in that they demonstrate that ALL elections matter and that citizens have a duty to make themselves informed on the issues and the candidates and to get out and vote. Even more disturbing, however are some of the comments posted to the Pilot article by freepers and teabaggers whose comments veritably drip with hate and malice towards Obama - and liberals. No wonder this part of Virginia remains such a backwater.

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Virginia's black voters played a major role in Barack Obama's ability to carry Virginia last year. This year - like far too many Democrats who are listless in their attitude towards Virginia's statewide races in part because of Obama's failure to deliver on campaign promises - black voters seem to lack the motivation to get out and vote to thwart Taliban Bob McDonnell's possible election as governor. Something that would take Virginia backwards in many ways. Who better than Obama to convince black voters that their votes are crucial than Obama. Yet, until today, Obama has campaigned only once in Virginia for Creigh Deeds. Now, belatedly he is coming to Norfolk and will hopefully speak and get adequate news coverage to wake up voters - be they black, white, Hispanic or other races - to get out and vote on November 3, 2009. Here are some highlights from the Washington Post:

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President Obama plans to appear Tuesday at a Norfolk rally with Deeds, who is trying to build some momentum in his campaign against Republican Robert F. McDonnell. Obama and Deeds have alternately embraced and distanced themselves from one another, as the campaign has rolled along. But as the race enters the final week, they are together again.
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Obama will stop in Virginia at the end of a two-day swing through Florida to share a stage with Deeds at an Old Dominion University rally, marking the first time Obama has campaigned with Deeds since early August. Also a new ad by the conservative Democrat features Obama trying to "fire up" some of his supporters, who have been decidedly cool to Deeds.

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Asked about the president's hot-and-cold relationship with Deeds, Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs said the administration has been supportive of the Virginian. He pointed out that Obama has raised money for Deeds, and Vice President Biden has traveled to the state to campaign for him. But one week after White House officials anonymously criticized Deeds for ignoring their campaign advice, Gibbs would not comment on how good a campaign Deeds is running. Asked whether the White House is happy with Deeds' campaign, Gibbs said: "That's not for me to pass judgment on."

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Admittedly, Deeds has not run the best of campaigns, but targeted efforts by Obama to turn out the black and youth votes long before now would have been worthwhile and might have Deeds higher in the polls at present.