The time for pitching—platforms, position papers, jobs and education plans—is over. Now, it’s all about hitting the bases of support each candidate has to get out the vote. The three men seeking the Democratic nomination for governor will spend the next 72 hours swinging across the commonwealth to energize loyal supporters to go to the polls on Tuesday.

Recent History Terry McAuliffe—Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former head of the Democratic National Committee, and former director of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign—says Republicans in the House of Delegates are not bipartisan enough. McAuliffe castigates them for thwarting Gov. Tim Kaine’s demand for higher road taxes and bigger unemployment benefits. “I’ve got to have a House of Delegates that agrees with me on these big issues,“ he says. But House Republicans “are impossible to deal with.“ Really?

No president—perhaps no other human being—in the past century has so perfected the art of flimflam as Bill Clinton. Recently he demonstrated once again his uncanny facility for mendacity. Clinton appeared at the Farmer’s Market in Richmond with gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, whom he praised as “the right sort of bipartisan guy.“

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean will be first on the ballot in the June 9 Democratic gubernatorial primary in Virginia because he was the first to file more than 10,000 signatures yesterday with the State Board of Elections. Former Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner of Virginia Beach will be first among the Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe made fundraising trips to Chicago, Los Angeles and Phoenix last week to beef up his already considerable campaign treasury. As a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, McAuliffe is known for his fundraising ability. He already has begun running television ads in Virginia, more than three months in advance of the June 9 Democratic primary.

The three Democratic candidates for governor still have a whole lot of persuading to do, a poll of potential Virginia Democratic voters shows. The poll by Raleigh, N.C.-based Public Policy Polling shows that almost half the voters—46 percent—are undecided about whom they will vote for in the June 9 Democratic primary. Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has the support of 21 percent, to 19 percent for former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria. State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County receives 14 percent.

The four men vying to be the next governor tried their hand at telling jokes to reporters at last night’s Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association dinner. Maybe they should stick to their day jobs. Three Democrats who face off in a June 9 primary—former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria—shared the bill with Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Former President Bill Clinton told Virginia Democrats last night that the party must maintain its new level of support nationally by respecting Americans’ trust in the party and focusing on how to solve problems. “The only thing that will make it work is that we think our differences are interesting but our common humanity matters more,“ Clinton said at the Democrats’ JeffersonJackson Day dinner, an annual fundraiser.

Terry McAuliffe formerly served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He wants to succeed Tim Kaine—who just accepted Barack Obama’s invitation to become DNC chairman (see editorial below)—as governor of Virginia. McAuliffe’s birth in Syracuse has led some in both parties to question his status as a Virginian. We happily report that McAuliffe has an engaging personality and is a fast learner. Unfortunately, he is learning the wrong lessons.

Terry McAuliffe, who told supporters in a video message yesterday that he will formally announce his candidacy for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination on Wednesday, has lived in McLean for 16 years but has never run for office in Virginia.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian J. Moran proposed yesterday that his two Democratic opponents pledge to refuse campaign contributions from out-of-state donors.

Del. Brian J. Moran, D-Alexandria, is quitting as a part-time legislator to run full time for governor. The move frees Moran, a 12-year lawmaker, not only to run flat-out for the Democratic nomination, but to raise money in the early run-up to the June primary.

Democratic leaders rejoiced yesterday over their election successes but were warned not to let up next year when Virginia elects its next governor.

With three Democrats lining up to run for Virginia governor next fall, none of the candidates should expect a holiday endorsement from the current occupant of the Executive Mansion. “I’m going to be neutral in this race,“ Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a fellow Democrat, said yesterday, referring to Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean.