MSNBC Interview - Transcript

Interview

MSNBC Interview with State Senator Creigh Deeds (D-VA), Democratic Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate

Subject: The Virginia Democratic Gubernatorial Primary

Interviewer: Norah O'Donnell

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MS. O'DONNELL: Senator Creigh Deeds is one of the Democratic candidates for governor, and joins us now.

Senator, good to see you. Thanks so much for joining us.

SEN. DEEDS: Thanks for having me, Norah.

MS. O'DONNELL: This is an interesting race because I understand that since Jimmy Carter's election in 1976, whichever party wins the White House has lost the Virginia governor's race. So why, given the history, could a Democrat ultimately win? Why are you running?

SEN. DEEDS: This race is still about Virginia. I'm running because I want to create positive change in Virginia. I want to restore confidence in the economy. I think this is the year we break the curse.

You know, Barack Obama changed politics forever in the United States, won Virginia for only the second time since World War II. In 1948 and 1964, we won Virginia -- I guess, the third time since World War II.

MS. O'DONNELL: Senator, you're leading in the polls.

SEN. DEEDS: Right.

MS. O'DONNELL: You don't have the national profile that --

SEN. DEEDS: (Inaudible.)

MS. O'DONNELL: -- Terry McAuliffe has.

SEN. DEEDS: Right.

MS. O'DONNELL: He's been on our air. He ran Hillary Clinton's campaign. He then endorsed Barack Obama. How do you knock off someone like Terry McAuliffe who's had Bill Clinton, the former president, in that state, and has a lot of money?

SEN. DEEDS: Hey, this race is about Virginia. It's about how we solve the problems that are facing real Virginians. It's about how we restore confidence in our economy. It's about how we fix our transporation problems.

If this state is -- if this race is about out-of-state money and out-of-state endorsements, Norah, you know, there's another guy that's going to win. But this race is about Virginia, and what's why I'm going to win.

MS. O'DONNELL: Terry McAuliffe is announcing today that Governor Schweitzer --

SEN. DEEDS: Right.

MS. O'DONNELL: -- of Montana has endorsed him. I noticed this morning you tweeted about that. Pretty snarky. What did you say?

SEN. DEEDS: Well, I -- it wasn't snarky. I just -- I said the obvious, that it's going to give Terry an edge-up in the Mountain Time Zone, in the Rocky Mountain --

MS. O'DONNELL: (Laughs.)

SEN. DEEDS: -- precincts of Virginia.

MS. O'DONNELL: Which there are none.

SEN. DEEDS: Well, I intend to win the Appalachian mountain precinctsm and the Allegheny Mountains. I intend to win in the Shenendoah Valley. I intend to win all over Virginia. But this race is about Virginia. It's about we move forward. And if -- you know --

MS. O'DONNELL: Is it a bellwether? Is is a referendum on Barack Obama's presidency, the outcome?

SEN. DEEDS: I think some people will see it that way. But, frankly, this race is about Virginia. It's about how we move forward in Virginia. And we've got to set our own course here. I think Barack Obama changed politics. But I think we can move forward.

MS. O'DONNELL: Well, then, the race is next Tuesday. We're going to be watching, not only because it's a bellwether and also because there are some high-profile names in that race.

State Senator Creigh Deeds, I know you're up in the polls. We'll be watching. Thanks so much.

SEN. DEEDS: Thanks, Norah.

END.

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