Either make the drive to Bath County (The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs) or save yourself a ton of time (and gasoline) and watch it here at 11 am.[UPDATE Saturday 2:48 pm: I've added post-debate answers in italics]
What should we be looking for tomorrow? First, here are a few by the best Washington Post Virginia reporter, Rosalind S. Helderman (no, that wasn't a backhanded compliment!).
*"Will the candidates debate debating at the debate?"
Not really, but McDonnell did take a dig at Deeds on this. Rosalind Helderman writes: "McDonnell gets in his first dig at Deeds before hitting the period of his first sentence. He welcomes everyone to what he hopes will be the first of 10 "real" debates, referencing the debate over how many debates the candidates should have now underway. Deeds has proposed 4 debates and 6 forums."
*"Who will invoke the president's name?"
McDonnell praised Obama for this fatherhood initiative and several other instances. According to Rosalind Helderman, "We'll have to review the tape to be sure, but don't think Deeds has mentioned him yet."
*"Does setting matter?"
McDonnell definitely got a louder ovation at the beginning, but did it affect the debate? I doubt it.
*"State vs. federal?"
Lots of arguing over this, with Deeds asking McDonnell if he was running for governor of Virginia or for Congress. McDonnell went hard after Deeds on issues like cap and trade, card check, state sovereignty, etc. Deeds kept trying to bring it back to Virginia, but McDonnell was persistent.
*"Who will put forward the grander plan for improving roads?"
McDonnell claimed repeatedly that he had a transportation plan and Deeds didn't. McDonnell calls Deeds' transportation plan a "wish list, not a plan" and asks him if he will raise taxes to pay for transportation. Deeds says he won't fix transportation on the backs of school children. Neither one, though, really put forth a "grander plan for improving roads."
With that, I'll add a few more of my own.
*"Will there be a 'gotcha' moment, as with the Webb-Allen debate in 2006 and the infamous Craney Island question."
I didn't hear one. McDonnell had the funniest line, when he mock-seriously asked Deeds why he didn't go by the name "Bob." That got a big laugh.
*"Will Bob McDonnell be knocked off his "pretend-to-be-a-moderate" game, or will he manage to continue the charade?"
McDonnell stayed on his game, although to my way of thinking he's a right-wing extremist not a "moderate." Still, the guy's dangerous because he's smooth, smart, and quick on his feet. Much stronger than Jerry Kilgore, much harder to beat.
*"Will Deeds use the phrase 'Pat Robertson Republican' to describe McDonnell? In general, will Deeds attempt to tie McDonnell to the extreme right wing of his party, people like Ken Cuccinelli, Michael Farris, Catherine Crabill, Sarah Palin, the 'tea baggers,' etc?"
Deeds tried to tie McDonnell to George W. Bush, but didn't mention Pat Robertson, George Allen, Catherine Crabill, Michael Farris, Sarah Palin, Ken Cuccinelli, Jim Gilmore or the "tea baggers."
*"How hard will Deeds hit McDonnell on his praise for Bush-o-nomics and on his rejection of federal stimulus money for unemployed Virginians?"
Deeds definitely hit him on the former, although not on the latter as far as I heard. McDonnell immediately went to 9/11, saying that the country was in bad shape and Bush was an excellent leader, blah blah blah.
*"Will either candidate have an easily mockable (and/or memorable) catchphrase like Jerry Kilgore's 'I trust the people...always have, always will' line in 2005?"
Nothing like that today.
*"What percentage of the debate will be on the economy and what percentage on other issues?"
I'd definitely say the majority of the discussion wason economic issues, taxes, and jobs.
*"Will stark differences between the candidates emerge, or will the candidates sound more like they could finish each other's sentences?"
I wouldn't say that stark differences emerged, and that's unfortunate because I think Virginians should be given a clear choice between a progressive on the one hand and an ultra-conservative on the other.
OK, that's it for me for now. What are you looking for tomorrow? Will you be watching?
UPDATE: Add another one to the list based on this article, "Will Deeds discuss issues 'front-and-center' for progressives, like environment and health care?"
No, not particularly.
