From the Washington Post:
Deeds Throws Abortion Gauntlet by Rosalind S. Helderman
Surrounded by female activists and lawmakers, Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds on Monday launched an assault on his opponent’s record of working to restrict abortions, calling it evidence that the Republican has the wrong priorities for the state.
The Women for Deeds event, at the Northern Virginia Community College campus in Annandale, was the first of three this week at which Deeds will highlight Republican Robert F. McDonnell’s history on the issue. McDonnell introduced numerous bills on abortion during his 14 years as a delegate from Virginia Beach.
Deeds’s message could energize a Democratic base that has been showing signs of sluggishness since last year’s overwhelming victory in the presidential election. It could also chip away at McDonnell’s campaign promises that he would focus on education, jobs and transportation if elected governor.
It is amusing that the Democratic candidate brought up the social issues first. Republican’s are often accused of creating division with social issues.
Many commentators are calling this a risky move. I don’t think it is. He is simply trying to fire up his base. He is losing badly in the polls and he needs a way to get the lead that McDonnell has down into the single digits. This may be an issue that helps him do that.
I for one hope it fires up the pro-life community.
