Spurning pleas from President Obama, former Virginia Governor [[Douglas Wilder]] refused to endorse Deeds, taking issue with the candidate's willingness to raise taxes in a weak economy. Wilder, the first black governor, carries great weight with Virginia's African American population. Blacks will vote for Deeds, but Wilder's refusal may lower their turnout rate, which was quite high in 2008.<ref> See [http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/25/wilder-to-deeds-thats-not-leadership/ "Wilder on Deeds: 'That's Not Leadership'" ''Washington Times'' Sept. 25, 2009]</ref> | Spurning pleas from President Obama, former Virginia Governor [[Douglas Wilder]] refused to endorse Deeds, taking issue with the candidate's willingness to raise taxes in a weak economy. Wilder, the first black governor, carries great weight with Virginia's African American population. Blacks will vote for Deeds, but Wilder's refusal may lower their turnout rate, which was quite high in 2008.<ref> See [http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/25/wilder-to-deeds-thats-not-leadership/ "Wilder on Deeds: 'That's Not Leadership'" ''Washington Times'' Sept. 25, 2009]</ref> |