At the same time, reports are coming in that Creigh Deeds has met perhaps more than once with individuals in Albemarle County about the 25th District race. While presumably these were private meetings, one might legitimately ask where Creigh Deeds focus is and, indeed, the focus of other potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for the 25th District.

George,

It is petty bullshit like the last line above that makes me despair about politics. That was beneath you. That was a comment worthy of a Republican.

You implied that there's something wrong with a candidate making private contacts despite backing away from public overtures to avoid shifting public focus. There is nothing wrong with that whatever, not for [Creigh], not for Meredith to visit outlying counties, not for any of the potential candidates to test the winds privately. They are all doing the same thing and saying essentially the same thing.

It's fine to play favorites so long as (A) we're open about it, and (B) as we judge all candidates by the same standard of behavior.

I've never met Deeds. I probably never will. But if he's willing to put himself up for candidacy with all the crap that entails, and he's not some off-the-wall defective, he deserves party respect.

Regards,

Rey Barry (electronic mail, October 29, 2001).

Editor's Comments: Actually, I see nothing wrong with a candidate making private contacts despite backing away from public overtures to avoid shifting public focus.

The intent of my piece was to bring this behavior into public focus and to call attention to the dilemma of candidates for the 25th District race, who have the job of putting every effort behind the statewide ticket while at the same time having to organize for the 25th District race itself.

A secondary intent was to alert interested parties to Creigh Deeds' activity in Albemarle County.

With the nominating convention occuring on November 10th, four days after the statewide election on November 6th, anyone who wishes to have an impact on who is nominated needs to be working with their preferred candidates now!

This should not take away from their passion and their focus on statewide elections. However, I believe most individuals can and do multitask.