Deeds Scores in Moran's Backyard

Creigh Deeds, a candidate for governor, is picking up a major endorsement in the backyard of his opponent for the 2009 Democratic nomination.

Deeds, a state senator from Bath County, is backed by Mary Margaret Whipple. She's head of the Senate Democratic Caucus and a state senator from Arlington County.

The Northern Virginia locality is where Brian Moran, also running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, got his start in politics as an assistant prosecutor.

Moran, now a member of the House of Delegates from Alexandria, is chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

Whipple's endorsement came in a fundraising e-mail in which she said she is backing Deeds "because of his distinguished record in the General Assembly, for his passion for the environment, because of his good heart and commitment to doing what is right, and because he has already shown he can win statewide."

Kind of.

Deeds was narrowly defeated for attorney general in 2005 by Republican Bob McDonnell, who's also now running for governor.

McDonnell won by only 360 votes. It was the closest statewide election ever in Virginia.