Former Virginia Gov. Wilder in no hurry to endorse Deeds

[Blue_Tires]

The Obama administration dispatched a senior aide to Richmond Wednesday to urge former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder to get behind state Sen. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.

Patrick Gaspard, the White House political director, met with Wilder, the nation's first elected black governor, for over two hours in Virginia's capital.

But Wilder, in disclosing the meeting in an interview with POLITICO, made it clear that he remained far from endorsing Deeds and was in no hurry to weigh in on the closely watched race — all the while outlining with his typical brutal candor what he thought some of the party’s challenges were and what was at stake.

On what the former governor called “bread-and-butter issues,” he said of Deeds: “Tell me what the man has done? I haven’t heard it.”

Asked if he thought Deeds may have a problem this fall with African-American voters, Wilder said flatly: “I do.”

He said black voters have no reason at the moment to vote for the nominee and referred to the decision this week of BET co-founder and Democratic donor Sheila Johnson to support GOP nominee Bob McDonnell.

“Many people feel taken for granted and I think that was built into the decision Mrs. Johnson made,” Wilder said.

http://hamptonroads.com/node/517276


This shit is starting to piss me off, and it has a very unplesant but familiar scent to it...Seems like after the favored and heavily funded McAuliffe lost, more than a few so-called Dems want to punish the voters after rejecting "their man"; and they have been forming 'bipartisan' teams to back McDonnell... FWIW the whole "taken for granted" talking point is the textbook cop-out when black Dems want to cross over to vote GOP...

I am NOT bullshittin' -- Kaine and the party better start pouring some money and energy into Deeds, because as far as my area is concerned, it seems as though McDonnell is running unopposed...

[FSogol]

1. Wilder NEVER endorses candidate until the last minute. It won't happen this time.

Obama needs to make a few Richmond, Newport News, and Northern VA appearances with Deeds.

[Blue_Tires]

2. there won't be that many

Obama will probably do one big fundraiser or appearance, probably in Richmond with Kaine

[VaYallaDawg]

3. I think Doug Wilder's day in the sun was over a long time ago. Just sayin'.

[left of center]

4. no surprise there, as Wilder has always.....

been slow to endorse. He likens himself to a king maker!

[RedCloud]

5. I believe in building your forces.

Unfortunately the repug is in front and over 50% of Virginians don't know if Obama was born in the USA according to the Ed Show. I am hoping it was Virginia Republicans, but who knows?

[carrowsboy]

6. No big deal.

This douchebag Wilder always pulls this crap. He did it to Warner and Kaine, too.

He thinks he is the be-all end-all to VA politics, but after his time in the Mayor's Office he holds no real clout anymore.

Wilder's a washed-up politician who thinks hanging out with Bill Cosby buys him street cred. Sad, really.