Positive review of WaPo?

Stop the presses!

A fantastic example of how newspapers--shockingly!--still matter transpired yesterday in the (great? Dare I say, greatest?) state of Virginia.

It's well known (amongst politicos and news junkies, at least) that the nation's eyes will be watching the Governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey. Simply because...there's nothing else to watch.

Over Memorial Day weekend, the Washington Post ran a well-timed editorial endorsing a long-shot candidate (for the Democrats) from rural Virginia--Creigh Deeds. I'll admit it: I was sold. The piece is persuasive, remarkably effect, and--as far as journalistic prose goes--truly a gem.

Democratic voters may wonder: How can Mr. Deeds beat presumptive Republican nominee Robert F. McDonnell, who beat Mr. Deeds in the attorney general's race four years ago? The answer: Mr. Deeds lost by a scant 323 votes out of roughly 2 million cast despite being outspent 2 to 1. This is one of only two governor's races slated for the fall, and whoever wins the primary will have plenty of cash. Virginia is still more purple than blue, and Mr. Deeds's moderate platform would have the broadest appeal.

Our judgment, though, is based on who would make the best governor in the Warner-Kaine tradition, not who would be the strongest candidate. Like those Northern Virginia senators who have endorsed Mr. Deeds -- including Janet D. Howell, Mary Margaret Whipple, J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen, Charles J. Colgan and Richard L. Saslaw -- we believe that he understands Northern Virginia. We also believe that he has the character, experience and savvy to be a successful leader of the entire commonwealth.

(I think I'm in good company amongst Virginians when I say that if you bandy anything about and say its "like Mark Warner," its popularity will jump ten points. This would probably even work for toothpaste.)

The impact of the editorial did not go unnoticed: National Journal argues that without it, Northern Virginian voters would have remained skeptical of Deeds' pro-gun stance. And sure enough, Deeds came from behind to snatch the victory.

Happy ending? We'll see.