Countdown to Va.'s Governor's Race

An old thesis paper and the failure to get a key endorsement seem to be the big issues so far in Virginia race for governor. Over the next five weeks viewers will no doubt see political commercials on television running with "scary" music.

Democrat Creigh Deeds continues to blast Republican Bob McDonnell for controversial writings in a 1989 thesis paper. Political Analyst Chuck Dunn thinks Deeds is overplaying it.

"You can only ride that horse so long. He's [Deeds] got it in his commercials; that's the best thing he's got going for him," Dunn told WAVY.com.

McDonnell's strategy is to acknowledge the thesis but to move on to what he thinks are the issues of the day.

Deeds also hits McDonnell for pushing a social agenda to carry out why he wrote in the thesis, including his alleged stance on limiting the rights to woman.

McDonnell countered that claim with an ad of his own.

Political Analyst Dr. Carol Pretlow thinks the issue is losing steam. "I do agree that was played to early voters... and [McDonnell] can rebound," she said.
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Dr. Dunn thinks the bigger issue Deeds needs to be concerned about is his failure to get an endorsement from Former Democratic Governor Doug Wilder, which could hurt him. The African American community is essential to Deeds success.

"Without Doug Wilder supporting him, quite frankly Creigh Deeds is a dead duck...at this point," Dunn said.

"I don't' agree with that," Pretlow said. She thinks African Americans voting by following the leader isn't true anymore. "I don't buy all that. Voters are much more independent than they use to be."

However, both Dunn and Pretlow think it's advantage McDonnell. This is based on the candidates' packaging and how they appear, and how they are appealing to the political base. They also remember the last time these two faced off and McDonnell won by 323 votes. Deeds is quick to point out that he is a finisher.