Does Deeds Really Need Wilder?

How much does former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder's refusal to endorse Creigh Deeds hurt the Democratic nominee for governor?

It's bad news, according to some state Democrats. But African American grassroots leaders who helped Obama win the state last year say Wilder's backing would be nice, but isn't really that important.

"I think Deeds will win without it," said Stephanie Meyers, national co-chair of Black Women For Obama For Change, an offshoot group of the grassroots organization that helped Obama become the first Democrat to win Virginia since 1964 last year. The group just reactivated its Virginia activists for Deeds and is currently running a national phone bank on his behalf.

"I'm not going to say anything in opposition to Doug Wilder -- he has great experience," she said when asked about the non-endorsement of Deeds. "I just feel differently."

Terry McAuliffe, who lost to Deeds in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, told TPMDC last week that support from Wilder -- the nation's first African American governor -- could be the difference between defeat and victory for Deeds.

"If you look at the 12-13% African American vote [Deeds was pulling in the last Washington Post poll] we have got to get that up to 15 or 16, and Wilder could help us do that."

McAuliffe said it was possible Wilder might change his mind and back Deeds at the last minute. "I think he could," he said. "I know he cares deeply about these issues [the reasons he decided not to endorse], but sure -- I could see him, at the end, changing his mind if he thinks it could tip the balance."

Meyers has been an organizer in Virginia for years and said that a Wilder endorsement "would help anybody in any race at any time." But she said African Americans will turn out "in high numbers" for Deeds anyway. She said that the momentum created by Obama will be enough to ensure high numbers of African Americans at the polls in November.

"[Deeds] doesn't have all the glamor and celebrity the public has associated with politicians," she said. "But this is still a time of opportunity and a time of change, and Deeds represents a real opportunity to continue that in Virginia."

As for polls showing Deeds with relatively low support among African Americans, Meyers said that was a reflection of general voter fatigue, not a sign that black voters won't show up for him on Nov. 3.

"The mood among African Americans in Virginia reflects the mood of the country," she said, adding that voters feel "down" in the face of continuing economic struggles. "Creigh Deeds is getting the brunt of a general malaise. It's not his fault."