Oct. 17--RICHMOND -- Virginia's candidates for governor are treating Roanoke television viewers to another round of bickering over whether Democrat Creigh Deeds supports a federal cap-and-trade system to control greenhouse gas emissions.

Republican Bob McDonnell rolled out a new ad Friday that accuses the Bath County senator of supporting "a Washington-style cap-and-trade energy tax putting jobs in his state Senate district at risk."

Deeds, who accused McDonnell of lying about the issue in a televised debate Monday, unveiled his own ad asserting that he "opposes any new energy taxes from Washington." The Deeds ad goes on to paint McDonnell as a champion of "the failed economics of the past. ... Billions in tax breaks for the wealthy and deregulation that collapsed our economy."

Both ads are airing in Roanoke and other Western Virginia markets, where McDonnell has aggressively moved to link Deeds with national Democratic policies that he said would threaten jobs in the region. Deeds' new ad calls McDonnell "out of touch with this part of Virginia."

The new McDonnell ad features Mark George, vice president of MeadWestvaco Corp.'s paper mill in Covington, who has been an outspoken critic of the cap-and-trade bill passed earlier this year by the U.S. House of Representatives.

"This energy tax can kill 1,400 jobs at this company," said George, who praises McDonnell for opposing the bill.

McDonnell has received $25,000 in contributions from MeadWestvaco and another $10,000 from its chairman, John Luke, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Deeds has said repeatedly that he opposes the House bill or any proposal that would increase energy costs in a down economy. Republicans point to the fact that Deeds served on Gov. Tim Kaine's climate change commission, which produced recommendations last year that included support for a federal cap-and-trade system. The 32-member Kaine panel included lawmakers from both parties, representatives of environmental groups and executives of utility companies and other businesses.

Republicans also seized on the fact that Deeds appeared at a private Northern Virginia fundraiser Friday with former Vice President Al Gore, the most visible spokesman for aggressive steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Democrats noted that McDonnell will campaign today with U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the 2008 GOP presidential candidate. McCain also has voiced support for a cap-and-trade system, but opposes the bill now pending in Congress.

Salem to host debates for 2 statewide races

Virginia's candidates for lieutenant governor will hold their only debate of the campaign Monday night at Roanoke College.

Incumbent Republican Bill Bolling and Democratic challenger Jody Wagner, the former state secretary of finance, will meet at 7 p.m. in the Olin Theater. The Virginia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division is sponsoring the debate. WSLS (Channel 10) news anchor Jay Warren and Virginia Tech professor Bob Denton will serve as moderators.

The final debate of the gubernatorial campaign will be staged at the same venue on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Obama, Bill Clinton to stump for Deeds

President Obama will make another trip to Virginia to campaign for Creigh Deeds, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate's campaign said Friday.

Obama has committed to a campaign appearance at a location yet to be determined on Oct. 27, just one week before the election, Deeds spokesman Jared Leopold said.

Obama's only other campaign appearance with Deeds was an August fundraiser and rally in McLean.

Former President Bill Clinton will campaign with Deeds on Tuesday in Northern Virginia.

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