Va. gubernatorial candidates talk jobs

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Forty-two days and counting until Virginia elects a new Governor. On Tuesday the two candidates also seemed to be counting the days. Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds each mentioned mentioned three times - that "42" number.

Both candidates talked about innovative technology and jobs to 100 gathered in Williamsburg at the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium.

Republican Bob McDonnell used humor as an in to talk about jobs. "Now I have 18,000 friends on Facebook, so based on that I am the most tech savvy candidate in the race," McDonnell said.

McDonnell says jobs-smart jobs and environmental green jobs are at the heart and sole of things we need to do to grow Virginia's economy. "I'm the only one who has experience as a manager, I was an Army officer, and Attorney General, worked at a Fortune 500 company. We need someone who will lead Virginia to her best during these critical times," he said.

Deeds told the group during his allotted time that "Virginia can become the national leader in clean energy and cutting edge technology."

Democrat Creigh Deeds Plan for high tech job creation proposes to double the Governor's Opportunity Fund for luring businesses to the state, which McDonnell proposes as well. Deeds wants a tax credit for businesses that create jobs, and he promises to find new revenues to pay for road improvements. "This is not some campaign slogan, it's my life's work. Technology is critical to the economy," Deeds said.

Paul Raihle from Networking Technologies and Support attended the symposium. "McDonnell understood the issues more... [he] seemed to be more comfortable with our issues...they both were good, but I think McDonnell probably won," he said.

Jean Jordan called it a tie. "I think McDonnell spoke best without using any notes. Deeds used notes...but I think it was a tie," Jordan said.

McDonnell once had a comfortable lead, but that lead is now somewhere around four points. The critically important independent undecided voters remain the target of all the commercials you will see on TV between now and November 3.