Deeds campaigns with Obama

Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds campaigned Thursday with Democrat President Barack Obama in Northern Virginia ... and the question could be, "Why?" Barack Obama's poll numbers have been falling in poll after poll.

The Hill reported that Obama's ratings may be aiding the GOP in Virginia:

Former Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell (R) has opened up a statistical lead over his Democratic rival in the race for governor, according to new polls out of the Old Dominion, and some political observers say a public souring on President Obama could be the cause.

The latest poll, conducted for the liberal DailyKos website by the independent polling firm Research 2000, shows McDonnell with a 51 percent to 43 percent lead over state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D). That's up from a statistically insignificant one-point margin between the two in a mid-June poll.

On Tuesday a Public Policy Poll had McDonnell up by 14%, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling up by 14%, and Atty. General candidate Ken Cuccinelli up by 13%.

As Obama's poll numbers go down, is he dragging his Party down with him?

... some ... conclude that Obama's souring approval ratings are dragging his party down as well.

"For better or worse, the president is perceived as being the leader of [his] party, and as goes fortunes of that presidential leader, often go the political fortunes of the people below them," said Michael McDonald, a political scientist at George Mason University.

Bob McDonnell, campaigning hard for months, has not slowed down during the summer even though Creigh Deeds got a slow start out of the gate after the June Democratic primary. Riding a wave of popularity that perhaps is partially due to the Democrat backlash against D.C. politics, McDonnell is receiving national attention since Virginia and New Jersey are the only gubernatorial games in town this year. Republican candidates in both states enjoy double-digit leads in the polls ... but no one is taking that for granted as the polls will surely tighten up considerably before November.

Irregardless, the Republican team appears to be solidly behind Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli with McDonnell scheduled to deliver the Republican Party's response to Barack Obama's weekly radio address on Saturday.