A Laurel and Hearty Handshake

Congratulations to Barack Obama on being the Democratic Nominee for President in 2008.

Now go out there and live up to your campaign promises. Be the change you said we've all been waiting for. Today he's officially kicking off his campaign throughout my home state of Virginia:

"David 'Mudcat' Saunders, a Roanoke-based strategist who has advised politicians on how to reach out to rural voters, said southwest Virginia is 'a logical place' for Obama to start because he will need to appeal to those voters in other crucial battleground states as well.

" 'If Virginia truly is in play, it's a practical move for him because he can get the western Pennsylvania bunch, the southeast Ohio bunch,' Saunders said. 'It's the same region. It's the same bunch of people; they just live in different states.'

"He added, 'These are the people around the country who decide the president of the United States, and they are neglected. The Republicans take them for granted, and the Democrats don't try to come get 'em. God bless Barack Obama for for trying to go get 'em.' "

Good luck turning my state purple, Senator. (I'll be your Waco Kid if you need help with the locals down there.)