RICHMOND—
In the heated race for Virginia Governor, the endorsement of a former Governor has become a hot commodity. Both candidates have been vying for support of former Governor Doug Wilder. Now one of them knows he won't get it.In a statement released today, former Governor Doug Wilder declined to endorse Democratic nominee for Governor, Creigh Deeds, despite being asked to do so.
"The requests, made of me, have been to endorse Mr. Deeds, the Democratic Candidate, for Governor," said Wilder in the statement posted on Virginiatomorrow.com. "I refrain from doing so and will leave that choice to the voters."
Deeds has been a critic of the 'one-handgun-per-month' law championed by Wilder. He voted against it, and has since expressed support for reversing the law. That decision clearly still bothers the nation's first elected black governor.
"I do not see how endorsing a proposal to have more handguns brought into our cities and suburban areas qualifies as any type of urban renewal plan," wrote Wilder. "For this situation to exist and for Democrats who lead our party to say nothing is puzzling and inexplicable."
He also said that now is not the time to be raising any taxes on Virginia's citizens. In an editorial published by the Washington Post, Deeds stated he would support a transportation funding plan, even if it included new taxes on Virginians.
" I will sign a bill that is the product of bipartisan compromise that provides a comprehensive transportation solution. As a legislator, I have voted for a number of mechanisms to fund transportation, including a gas tax. And I'll sign a bipartisan bill with a dedicated funding mechanism for transportation -- even if it includes new taxes."
""We respect Governor Wilder's decision," said Deeds' spokesman Jared Leopold. "While Creigh and he may not agree on every issue, they share a fundamental commitment to keeping Virginia the best managed state in the nation, as Governor Wilder first made it in 1992. As governor, Creigh intends to seek Governor Wilder's counsel often, and looks forward to working with him."
Wilder maintains he has never endorsed a Republican, but has a close association with McDonnell. McDonnell also told reporters that he met with Wilder this week and asked for his endorsement.
Wilder also sat out of the 2005 Attorney General contest between Deeds and McDonnell - an election that McDonnell eventually won by a scant 360 votes.
