2009 should wait its turn.

by: Johnny Camacho

Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 04:07:47 AM EST

On the night of November 4th, I was elated. I had been watching the Presidential race unfold for about 2 years. I had poured countless hours into watching dozens of debates, frantically analyzing hundreds of polls, and, of course, reading several different online news sources daily for the latest snippets of information from the campaign trail.

I did all of this hoping that each different source of information and insight would provide me with a different piece to a much larger puzzle. While this obsessive pursuit may have been gratifying at times, it was quite often completely exhausting and acutely frustrating. I think that most of my fellow political devotees would gladly second that sentiment.

So, on the night of November 4th, even in spite of the fact that several important races around the country remained undecided, I was hopeful that my electoral frustrations and exhaustion had ended, even if only for a little while. I knew that the 2009 elections would eventually come knocking, and that they would demand my full, undivided attention. I was fully prepared to give it to them when the time came to do so; all I asked for was a little bit of space.

That was apparently too bold a request. While en route from Clifton Forge, VA to Hot Springs, VA yesterday, I spotted three “Bob McDonnell for Governor” yard signs.

I nearly had a panic attack. Personally, I tend to think that yard signs are one of the tackier elements of political campaigns anyway. Granted, they do always manage to take on a hokey sort of charm as elections get nearer, perhaps because elections have a way of romanticizing everything political; even corrugated plastic and metal wire. But yard signs going up 11 months prior to the election in which their advocated candidate will be listed on the ballot? I can’t imagine a more unfortunate political faux pas.

Another blunt reminder that the 2009 campaign is officially underway (whether I like it or not) comes in the form of the numerous candidate press releases that have started making their way to my inbox on a daily basis. I’ll be honest and say that I genuinely enjoy reading said press releases, as the political jockeying contained within has a tendency to be endlessly fascinating.

I will also concede that I’ve already had some very fun and interesting discussions concerning the Democratic race for Governor. It’s very amusing to chew over hypothetical questions such as: What’ll happen when/if Terry McAuliffe gets into the race? Doesn’t the conventional wisdom say that he’ll siphon off a large number of votes from Brian Moran? Does that secure victory for Creigh Deeds? Will the primary vote be divided along regional lines more so than ideological lines, or will it be the other way around?

As compelling as these questions may be, we will all have plenty of time to argue them until we’re red in the face, which is why I absolutely refuse to allow myself to become fanatically absorbed in this campaign at the present time. In an attempt to keep my blood pressure under control, I will instead try to be a patient and sane observer in the next few months.

I will obviously continue to keep an intent eye on the race for the Governor’s Mansion, but, since I already have a horse in that race (hint: I’m from Bath County), I will spend much of my time attempting to become more familiar with the plethora of House candidates (particularly the challengers) whose names will be printed on Virginia’s ballots, and whose faces will become fixtures at political gatherings around their districts.

In the meantime, though, all I can ask is that you please refrain from putting up yard signs.