Bob McDonnell's Big Endorsement

I usually don't get caught up in the endorsement game, we see over and over how establishment candidates rack up endorsements hand over fist, but lose because they can't move voters and usually get the endorsement by some internal political game.  But Bob McDonnell's announcement of Sheila Johnson's endorsement today is really a big one.  Not only is Johnson a major leader in the black community, she's respected across board in Northern Virginia.  But its not that simply Johnson is a black businesswomen that makes this endorsement important, its more a validation of McDonnell's campaign theme:  Jobs.  

"I know them both well, and I just want to say from the very beginning Bob McDonnell has had his pulse on the state of the economy that's facing Virginia right now. He understands that we need jobs, jobs, jobs," Johnson said. "I will always be a Democrat, but as a Democrat, I am really impressed with this Republican candidate."

Its as important that Johnson is a business leader as it is what her race is.  Don't get me wrong, for a Republican that is important.  But Johnson's endorsement is validation that Virginia is going down the wrong path under Democrat leadership in Richmond and in Washington, and that of the two candidates its McDonnell that understands the needs of the middle class, and that his path is the one to take to bring Virginia back.  

And remember, this has played out before.  McDonnell for some reason seems to do well with black voters, in terms of as good any Republican can.  He got Doug Wilder's endorsement in 2005 over Deeds, and he might get it again.  And trust me, this time around, you won't see groups like the NRA backing Deeds in such a high-profile bellweather contest.  

I was worried early on about the McDonnell campaign, the fact that the nomination was bestowed up him by Bill Bolling rather than earned in a convention, that perhaps he could go on and on in speeches . . . but he's really picked it up since Deeds got the nomination and his doggedness at keeping to the Bobs 4 Jobs theme is turning this into a disciplined campaign . . . something Republicans really aren't used to recently.  Its still going to be close, but its nice to know that the bottom of the ticket won't have to worry about the top this year.