Deeds, Dems On Tour

The royal family of Virginia Democratic politics are busy this week crowning the man they hope is their heir apparent.

On Wednesday, newly anointed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds appeared with his former rivals and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine at a big unity event in Richmond. Today's he's with former governor and now Sen. Mark Warner in Arlington. And tomorrow brings a family conclave--Deeds, Kaine, Warner and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb in Williamsburg, along with Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Jody Wagner and attorney general nominee Steve Shannon.

It's no surprise that Deeds would bask in the warm glow of recently victorious Democratic candidates. After all, Deeds won by convincing voters he was the Democratic most likely to continue the Warner-Kaine legacy and that his policies were in line with blue dog Webb.

But, in what has become a classic of political strategy, watch for the Republicans to work to turn the strength of that narrative into a weakness.

With Kaine's popularity numbers high, it's hard to imagine it now, but Republicans plan to try to turn the Kaine legacy into an albatross around Deeds' neck. They will charge that during Kaine's tenure, the economy has faltered, transportation floundered and college tuition risen. Taking a page from the playbook of some other politicians we can think, they will suggest that what Virginians need now is change.

Will it work? That's one, among many, answers we'll be getting in coming months.