Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deeds joins celebration

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds made a stop at Culpeper’s July 4 festivities Saturday.

During his approximately 45-minute visit to Culpeper, Deeds worked the crowd at Yowell Meadow Park, introducing himself to dozens of residents and visitors and chatting with food vendors. The stop was part of a larger regional campaign tour that began in northern Virginia and followed the U.S. 29 corridor south to Charlottesville, said campaign spokesman Jared Leopold.

Deeds, who last visited Culpeper in March during the run-up to the June Democratic primary election, emerged the victor in a three-way primary race with fellow Democrats Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran. He attributed his success so far to staying positive and focused.

“We ran a positive campaign,” Deeds said after meeting, greeting and eating a corndog with mustard in the park during his informal visit.

“There are lots of other places, but I’m happy to be in Culpeper,” he said.

In November, Deeds will face the state’s Republican nominee for governor, Bob McDonnell. It will be the second time the men have squared off in a state level political campaign. In 2005, McDonnell defeated Deeds by a few hundred votes to claim the Attorney General’s seat. Deeds spoke highly and respectfully of McDonnell.

“Bob is a good family man,” Deeds said. But he added that he thinks some voters will better connect his stance on political and social issues.

“I’m confident we’ll win,” Deeds said. “We didn’t try to be all things to all people.”

First elected to the House of Delegates in 1991, Deeds entered public service as a Bath County prosecutor.

He won reelection five times before leaving the House for the Senate and represents the 25th District, an area that includes the City of Charlottesville and stretches to the West Virginia border.