This afternoon, Creigh announced the formation of "Business Leaders for Deeds." He was joined by Ted Leonsis, the former AOL vice chairman and current majority owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics, and Senator Mark Warner. Mr. Leonsis will lead the group of bipartisan, statewide business leaders.

The announcement was made at the Washington Capitals' state-of-the-art training facility - the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington.

"Our administration will be working hard every day to create opportunity and jobs for Virginians, and these business leaders will be a key part of our bipartisan efforts to better position the Commonwealth to emerge stronger from our economic challenges," said Creigh.


"I am impressed by Creigh's focus on quality education, technology and innovation as the cornerstones of Virginia's economic future," Mr. Leonsis said. "'Business Leaders for Deeds' will bring together leading executives from across the state to advise Creigh during the campaign – and, more importantly, after his election this fall."

Click here for pictures of today's event and stay tuned for video.

Do you want to be a member of Business Leaders for Deeds? Click here to sign up to serve on the committee.

Other members of "Business Leaders for Deeds" so far include:

• Douglas M. Adams of Maiden, Retired President of The Country Vintner, Inc.;
• Jane Inskeep Barrell of Culpeper; Co-Owner of Culpeper Management, LLC;
•  Robert M. Blue of Richmond, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Corporate Communications for Dominion Corporation;
• The Honorable Sandra Bowen of Richmond, former Senior Vice President of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, former Virginia Secretary of Administration and Commonwealth;
• William M. Camp, Jr. of Franklin, principal of Holliknoll Farm;
• James K. Candler of Lynchburg, Chairman of Candler Oil Company, Inc.;
• Judith P. Carter of Orange, Principal of Germanna Title Company;
• Laurie C. Crigler of Madison, Vice President of L&D Associates, Inc.;
• Edward C. Dalrymple of Mineral, Vice President of Chemung Contracting;
• Charlotte B. Dammann of Charlottesville, Associate Broker McLean Faulconer Realtors Inc.;
• Joseph R. Daniel of Culpeper, President of Jefferson Homebuilders;
• Joshua P. Darden, Jr., of Norfolk, President of Darden Properties Inc.;
• Carlos Del Toro of Stafford, President & CEO of SBG Technology Solutions, Inc.;
• Susan Y. “Syd” Dorsey of Mechanicsville, Director of Sales & Marketing at Astyra Corporation;
• G.S. “Sandy” Fitz-Hugh, Jr., former President of the Bank of America – Virginia;
• David Goode of Norfolk, former Chairman, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation;
• Mark Goodwin of Richmond, former Senior Vice President of UPS Freight;
• William C. Hall, Jr. of Richmond, Vice President of Corporate Communications & Community Affairs for Dominion Corporation;
• Robert D. Hardie of Charlottesville, Managing Director of Level One Partners, LLC;
• Cabell S. Harris of Richmond, President of WORK Labs;
• Jimmy Hazel of Oakton, principal of Angler Environmental;
• John T. “Til” Hazel, Jr. of Broad Run, founder and former chairman of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council;
• William R. Hedrick of Bluefield, President of Fort Chiswell Construction Corporation;
• Ted Hontz of Stafford, Vice President of Basic Commerce and Industries, Inc.;
• Kenneth Jones of Richmond, Owner and President of Prestige Construction Company;
• James L. Keen of Vansant, CEO of Keen H.R. Services, Inc.;
• Austin Ligon of Richmond, co-founder and retired CEO of CarMax Inc.;
• Mark C. Lowham of McLean, Senior Vice President of WEST*GROUP;
• Charles H. Majors of Danville, President & CEO of American National Bank & Trust Company;
• John F. Malbon of Virginia Beach, CEO of Papco, Inc.;
• Mark R. Merhige of Richmond, President of Shockoe Properties;
• Bittle Porterfield, III of Roanoke, President of Rice Management Company;
• Richard S. “Major” Reynolds III of Richmond, Managing Director of Reynolds Trust;
• Gilbert “Gil” Rosenthal of Richmond, retired owner of Standard Drug Company;
• Tom Rosenthal of Richmond, CEO of Med Outcomes, Inc.
• Walter Rugaber of Meadows of Dan, former President and Publisher of The Roanoke Times;
• The Honorable Elliot Schewel of Lynchburg, Former President of Schewel Furniture Company and former State Senator;
• Ranjit K. Sen of Richmond, President & CEO of CXI;
• R. Chris Walters of Abingdon, financial advisor;
• Naomi Weathers of Chester, Owner and President of Weathers Engineering Inc.;
• Blair K. Williamson of Charlottesville, President of S.L. Williamson Company, Inc.;
• Alan S. Witt of Newport News, CEO of Witt Mares, PLC;
• Linda Zecher of Charlottesville, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector of Microsoft Corporation.

Friend --

There are only 5 days until the crucial June 30 fundraising deadline.

The press, the pundits, and our opponents will use this report as a benchmark to compare our campaign's early success to Bob McDonnell's.

That's why we've set a goal of raising $100,000 online by the June 30 fundraising deadline. I know I'm asking a lot, but you've lifted me up every time I've asked for help before – and I know you can do it again.

Contribute today to help our campaign raise $100,000 by the June 30 fundraising deadline.

While I was fighting a tough primary, Bob McDonnell was able to raise close to $5 million to campaign against me allowing him to go up on TV this week. We have a lot of momentum in the polls -- but when it comes to money, we've got some catching up to do.

Let's change that, right now.

Donate to my campaign so we can reach our $100k goal by June 30.

I don't need to remind you of the stakes in this election.

We face a very stark choice of whether Virginia continues to move forward – or whether we move backwards with the disastrous economic and social agenda of Bob McDonnell and George W. Bush.

We need to win in November, and the first step is showing our strength by the June 30 fundraising deadline .

Thank you for your support.

Thanks,
Creigh

Friend --

I wanted you to be the first to know: I just learned that Bob McDonnell will begin running ads across Virginia starting in the next 48 hours.

McDonnell and the RNC are worried.  Instead of a lead, he finds himself behind in the polls, and struggling in all areas of the state.

His back is against the wall and now he's got to remake his record to try and convince voters he's a moderate. But his record shows otherwise, and we need to set the record straight to Virginia voters.

That's why we've set a goal of raising $100,000 online by the June 30 fundraising deadline. I know it’s an ambitious goal, but we need to make sure we expose Bob McDonnell for who he really is.

Contribute today to help Creigh raise $100,000 by June 30 to set the record straight on Bob McDonnell.

Who is Bob McDonnell? Well, we know he's charismatic. We know he's a capable fundraiser and candidate. But most importantly, we know that Bob McDonnell is wrong on almost every issue that’s important to working-class Virginians.

Bob McDonnell opposes a forward-thinking energy policy. He opposes an additional $125 million of unemployment benefits for laid off Virginia workers. He opposes stem cell research to find cures that will help Virginia families. And he opposes a woman's right to choose – even in cases of rape and incest.

Bob McDonnell has an extreme social and economic agenda. You and I know that. But Creigh needs your help to make sure voters all across the Commonwealth know, too.

I guarantee you that these new ads will not expose any of these facts.

Donate to our campaign today to make sure we have the resources we need to take on Bob McDonnell.

These ads, and McDonnell's whole campaign, will be well-funded by out-of-state interests and the national Republican party.  These are the same people who led the fight for the agendas of Gilmore, Bush and McCain.

Our primary was crucial. Creigh emerged out of the primary a stronger candidate, and we built a powerful grassroots campaign to support him. 

But we had to spend every penny we had to win, while Bob McDonnell stockpiled more than $4.9 million in his campaign coffers.

That financial advantage is allowing him to go up on the air this week. We must respond.

Help us show Virginians the real Bob McDonnell. Contribute to our $100,000 end of quarter goal today!
 
Thank you for all your help. Together, we can ensure Virginians make an informed decision in November.

Thanks,

Joe Abbey
Campaign Manager
Deeds for Virginia

PS -- After you help us reach our $100,000 goal by June 30, please forward this message to five of your friends.

Friend --

Yesterday, President Obama sent out the following message to his supporters and I wanted to make sure you saw it.

As the President said, "Creigh Deeds' victory once again shows the power of people at the grassroots to win elections and bring about lasting change."

We need you now more than ever. This is going to be a tough race and we need to work together to beat Bob McDonnell in November.

Read the message below, sign up to volunteer, and pass the President's message around. Let your friends know what you and President Obama are doing to elect Creigh the next Governor of Virginia.

Click here to sign up to volunteer today.

Thanks,

Joe Abbey
Campaign Manager
Deeds for Virginia

------Original Message------
From: President Barack Obama
Subject:Creigh Deeds for Governor

Last Tuesday, Creigh Deeds won the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia. In a hard-fought race, Creigh ran a terrific campaign and beat two fierce competitors by winning votes in every corner of the Commonwealth.

I know a thing or two about tough primaries, and I know a thing or two about running tough races in Virginia. Creigh Deeds' victory once again shows the power of people at the grassroots to win elections and bring about lasting change -- and he will be a better candidate this fall because of his hard work to win the nomination.

Creigh has been a dedicated public servant his entire life. As a county prosecutor and state legislator, he's been a strong advocate for economic development, high-quality education, and affordable health care -- and he's gone to great lengths to protect the environment and institute smart public transportation.

Now he needs your help to make sure Democrats retain the Virginia governorship. Please visit his website and get involved today.

Creigh has an ability to bring people together, build consensus and deliver results. He will bring the same bipartisan, pragmatic approach to politics that former Governor and now Senator Mark Warner and my friend Governor Tim Kaine used to help Virginia move forward over the past eight years.

I know that approach works because I've spent some time in your great Commonwealth. In my experience, Democratic candidates with a pragmatic approach to solving problems can be successful. That's the approach my campaign took last November to put Virginia in the Democratic column for the first time since 1964. And that's how Creigh Deeds will win this fall.

Learn more about Creigh, and get involved today:

http://www.deedsforvirginia.com

I look forward to working with Creigh to keep the Commonwealth strong and to bring about the economic recovery and renewed prosperity Virginians demand and deserve.

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama