Virginia?s next Attorney General, Creigh Deeds, is a 47-year-old attorney and former prosecutor who has served as a Virginia State Senator since 2001. Before that, Deeds was a member of the House of Delegates (starting in 1992).Perhaps most significantly from the perspective of Tim Kaine, Deeds is from the rural, western part of Virginia (Warm Springs, located in rural, beautiful Bath County), adding a nice dose of regional and urban/rural balance to his ticket.
Also of signficance for the Democratic ticket?s chances in November, Deeds has shown a great deal of energy and enthusiasm in his run for Attorney General, outraising John Edwards by a factor of five as of December 31, 2005 (the latest available data from VPAP).
Ideologically, the Richomnd Times Dispatch,, characterizes Deeds as having ?generally compiled a moderate-to-conservative voting record? in the state legislature. One key to that characterization, no doubt, is Deeds? strong support for anti-crime measures. According to his website, Deeds was ?the chief patron of Virginia?s ?Megan?s Law? to protect children from sexual predators,? and received the ??Warren Stambaugh Award? for his legislative work? by the non-profit, crime victims? advocacy and support group ?Virginians United Against Crime.?
Deeds is a supporter of the death penalty, but is not fully ?satisfied that punishment is handed down ? in a way that is fair to all Virginians.? That?s why Deeds voted in 2001 for placing a ?moratorium on capital punishment until a state study of it is completed.?
On firearms, Deeds has received an ?A rating? from the NRA for his strong support of second amendment rights. Deeds has called guns ?the defining issue in rural Virginia?, and believes that this issue is a key reason why Democrats have had difficulty winning in rural parts of the country. Deeds appears very close poltically on the gun issue to Gov. Mark Warner. Deeds argues that the ?real issue is how do we reduce violent crime,? while stressing that he ?believe[s] in gun safety? and gun education in the schools.
Although Deeds is, no doubt, more conservative than many (most?) Democrats on guns, he did break with the NRA in 1988 when he co-sponsored HB 436, prohibiting ?the possession of a firearm by a person convicted of stalking, sexual battery, or family member assault and battery, on a first conviction, for five years, and on a second or subsequent conviction, permanently.?
On gay rights, Deeds? position can be classified as a moderately conservative. In May 2004, for instance, Deeds sharply critized Republicans for pushing a ?mean-spirited and unnecessary? bill banning gay marriage and legal contracts between unmarried partners.? On the other hand, in February 2005, Deeds voted for SJ 337, a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage in Virginia as ?between one man and one woman.? In committee, however, Deeds voted against a sentence in the proposed amendment which would also outlaw civil unions or other such measures which would ?approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effect of marriage.? In other words, Deeds holds the majority Democratic view (i.e., almost identical to John Kerry) supporting marriage as between a man and a woman, while also looking favorably upon other arrangements such as ?civil unions.?
In contrast to his stance on gay marriage, Deeds can be considered a liberal with regards to abortion. Deeds is strongly and unabashedly pro-choice, saying that, although ?we ought to be about reducing the need for abortion - for reducing unwanted pregnancies,? he strongly believes ?we have to keep abortion legal and keep it safe.?
On other issues, Deeds touts his support for Virginia?s public schools and ?the Commonwealth?s nationally respected system of higher education,? emphasizing that ?our state?s higher education system is crucial to our economic vitality.? On the environment, Deeds points to a strong record, including special recognition awards by the Nature Conservancy of Virginia and the Preservation Alliance of Virginia ?for his legislation to create the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation.? On health care, Deeds has been a strong supporter of helping the elderly and disabled afford the rising cost of prescription drugs. He has also pushed for expanded coverage to low-income children and to underserved areas of the state.
What does this all mean for Tim Kaine?s chances in November? Mostly positive, as far as we can tell here at RaisingKaine. Adding a dose of energy and enthusiasm to the ticket certainly is a good thing, as is the regional diversity offered by Deeds. More importantly, Deeds complements Tim Kaine very well, in our opinion, as a moderately conservative, pro-education, pro-health care, pro-environment, pro-choice, anti-gay-marriage, tough-on-crime Democrat.
The bottom line is that Deeds is a young, interesting, energetic, ?mainstream Virginia values? politician, not easy to pigeonhole ideologically, who is very likely to help Tim Kaine win election as Virginia governor 8 months from now.