Here are some links to "traditional media" coverage of the gubernatorial debate earlier today. Note the common them: the candidates largely agree on the issues, campaign contributions spark the most heated exchanges. Roanoke Times (Michael Sluss): "Virginia’s three Democratic candidates for governor tried to sharpen their differences on a range of issues in their first formal debate Sunday, but some of their most heated exchanges focused on campaign contributors rather than policy...Deeds went after both of his rivals over how they are financing their campaigns, suggesting that both would be beholden to major contributors and hurt the Democratic Party’s standing with middle-class voters."
WCAV (Liz Palka): "Job creation, transportation and gay marriage were all hot topics. However, the three candidates did not really break new ground...All three candidates took jabs at their Republican opponent, Bob McDonnell."
Richmond Times Dispatch (Olympia Meola): "Campaign contributions sparked the most pointed jabs today as the three Democratic gubernatorial candidates did little to highlight their policy differences in their first debate..."
AP: "Virginia's three Democratic candidates for governor traded barbs over campaign fundraising Sunday and differed on who is best qualified to build on the legacies of Gov. Tim Kaine and his predecessor, Mark Warner...[the three candidates] touched on the economy, the death penalty, the state's gay marriage ban and gun control during a 90-minute debate at the College of William and Mary"
Washington Post (Anita Kumar): "State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds used the first debate among the Democrats running for Virginia governor to attack his two rivals Sunday, questioning the campaign contributions they received from wealthy out-of-state donors and defense contractors."
CQ Politics (Greg Giroux): "Each of the three candidates, who are running in a primary election on June 9 that will determine who fill face Republican Bob McDonnell, a former state attorney general, sought to portray himself as a well-prepared successor to Democrats Mark Warner , who served as governor from 2002 to 2006 and is now a U.S. senator, and Tim Kaine , who is leaving the governorship when his term expires at the end of this year."
PilotOnlin (Warren Fiske): "The three Democrats running for governor aired plenty of differences about their qualifications but few over specific issues during their first debate on Sunday."
