Deeds says Obama will join campaign, splits with president on national issues

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds said that voters should expect President Barack Obama to pay a visit to the Old Dominion before the campaign concludes.

He made his remarks in a Twitterview with National Journal’s The Hotline this afternoon:

@CreighDeeds last 2. First, How many visits from Obama are you asking for? 1, 2, 10, more?

@thehotline Obama called me after primary victory. We look forward to seeing him in VA in next 105 days.

Deeds declined to say how often or when Obama will campaign with him. Obama recently appeared at a rally for incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) to boost his campaign against challenger Chris Christie (R).

Although Obama may help Deeds on the campaign trail, he split with the president on some national issues such as the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and cap-and-trade. On healthcare reform, he skirted the issue of a public option.

He tweeted on Tuesday:

@CreighDeeds some politics Qs. GOP has continued to push you on nat’l issues. Ur postions on: Cap&Trade, EFCA, health care pub option, pls.

@thehotline EFCA:Bob is grandstanding. Issue belongs in Congrs. I’ll work w/ Va. deleg. to make sure businesses and secret ballot protected.

@thehotline Captrade: another serious issue. Need to address climate change, but during recession don’t need higher energy costs

@thehotline Gov can do a lot to improve hc. that’s why my econ plan improves health ins. in VA, provides emergency HC loans to unemployed.

The state senator from conservative Bath County is running as a moderate Democrat, a blueprint that has helped Democrats dominate the Governor’s Mansion in Virginia since 2002.

Deeds also suggested his Republican opponent Bob McDonnell is flip-flopper.

The Democratic nominee criticized McDonnell for changing his stance on the Governor’s Opportunity Fund, a state discretionary fund that provides incentives to businesses.

The state senator tweeted Tuesday:

@CreighDeeds OK, let’s talk about some of your recent proposals. GOP says your and McDonnell’s econ plans are “carbon copies.” Your take?

@thehotline i cut more taxes for sm biz, beef up gov’s opp fund, don’t pass the buck to LG. Bob was against govs opp fund bf he was for it.

The fund was created in 1996 under then-Gov. George Allen (R-Va.)

The Hotline conducted a Twitterview with McDonnell about two-weeks ago in which the former state Attorney General distanced himself from Sarah Palin.

Candidates in this year’s Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races have been extremely active on Twitter in order to get their message out to a wider audience.