In these final days of the campaign for the Virginia Governor's office, Democrats have dropped all pretense of the race having anything at all to do with the state of Virginia. Standard procedure at this stage of a modern campaign calls for volunteers to span out to every neighborhood leaving a pamphlet or flyer or some other promotional item at every door. Democrat Creigh Deeds' campaign workers are doing exactly that but the promotional material with which they are papering the state of Virginia barely mentions the actual candidate while prominently featuring the man this election is really about for their party.

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One version of the latest handout features a large color photo of President Barack Obama, his name in large print, the words "It's time" in larger print and then a quote from the president in much smaller print that reads "I need every one of you to get fired up once against so that we can go towards the future, confident with Creigh Deeds leading the great Commonwealth of Virginia." Beneath the quote (in more prominent print) is the president's name yet again. The second page of the piece finally shows a photo of the candidate (with the president of course) but even that is headlined with "President Obama needs our help to elect Creigh Deeds As Governor" (view the handout) What about what the people of the state of Virginia need?

A second version, obviously designed to be handed out to churchgoers, starts with the headline "Pray for Our President, Vote to Move Virginia Forward". While this piece features the candidate a bit more than the first, it definitely gives Mr. Obama top billing. (view the handout)

The third version doesn't even mention Mr. Deeds on the first page. It begins with the headline "Time to Fight Back!" and goes on to say, "When he was elected, they hoped he would fail. When he worked to fix the economy, they stood against him. When he fought for health reform, they stalled." That is followed by a photo of only President Obama with the words "Vote Tuesday, November 3". (view the handout)

With Deeds trailing Republican Bob McDonnell in most polls by double digits, even some in the liberal media have had to acknowledge the potential impact his loss would have on the Obama administration and other Democrats at the national level. The New York Times grudgingly admitted "the outcome is seen by many as at least some kind of a test of Mr. Obama’s popularity, considering he was the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Virginia in 45 years." (source)

Obviously even Creigh Deeds knows his campaign is no longer about Creigh Deeds. And sadly, the Democrats don't think it's about what's best for the people of Virginia either.