WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Deeds and McDonnell debate at Roanoke College
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Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds faced off for the fourth time Tuesday night at Roanoke College.
In contrast to their last meeting near Richmond, Tuesday's exchange was less pointed and more polite.
In their last meeting before election day, the candidates did clash on issues that have already made headlines.
Bob McDonnell's controversial college thesis was back on the table.
"I think he's made a conscious decision that he has to go over and attack me on an old college paper. In fact most of his campaign has been backward looking," said McDonnell.
"The thesis is relevant, because it puts into context Bob's record, and it helps explain why he never wrote a bill to create a job. He never wrote a bill to expand an educational opportunity," said Deeds.
And southwest Virginia figured prominently in a discussion of the climate change legislation known as cap and trade.
That bill will raise costs at a time of recession and will put American and Virginia businesses at a disadvantage. And i don't support that and i've said it publicly yet Bob continues to spend millions of dollars trying to scare the people of southwest virginia into thinking i'm going to take their jobs away," said Deeds.
"One of the largest employers in his district is Meadwestvaco and they've looked at our respective plans and our positions on this and they are strongly supporting me. 15-hundred jobs in Alleghany County in Creigh's senate district that are potentially at risk with this massive new federal energy tax," said McDonnell.
But if Deeds supporters were hoping for a knock-out blow, it never came. And Roanoke College Professor and News 7 political analyst Harry Wilson declared this confrontation a tie.
"If you're 10 points down or somewhere in that neighborhood or even 10 points down that doesn't do it for you. So that's where I really think Mr. Deeds really needed to do more than he did," said Wilson.
The debates may be over, but the candidates aren't breaking their stride. Creigh Deeds campaigned today with Bill Clinton in northern Virginia, and President Barack Obama is due in the state next week.
And McDonnell is launching a four day statewide jobs tour Wednesday morning in Lynchburg.
