Mudcat Saunders doesn’t think Barack Obama helped or hurt Creigh Deeds

As Virginians headed into the precincts and cast their ballot in their own back yard the nation is watching with a close eye.
   
A year ago, President Barack Obama declared victory for the Democratic Party.  But in 12 months since, the political atmosphere has changed.
   
A candidate overwhelmingly supported by voters is now a leader facing criticism.
   
Some say Obama’s report card has Virginians looking for another change.

”They may think that Democrats haven’t held up to what they said they were going to do, so therefore they may switch into a Republican, because it has been a while say we’ve had a Republican Governor,” Jason Cantrell, voter.
   
We took this theory to democratic political strategist Mudcat Saunders.  The former John Edwards campaign leader disagrees.
“I don’t think Barack Obama per say helped or hurt Creigh Deeds.  I think the times and I think the timing of this election coming on the heals of that victory,” Saunders explained.
   
He said it would be extremely difficult for any candidate to rally Virginia’s Democrats simply because they’re burnt out.
   
Just last week, President Obama took the stage for Virginia’s Democratic ticket, trying to rally his popular audience.
“They were there for the presidential (election), they went home for the gubernatorial (election),” Saunders said.  “All that energy for Obama last year sucked the air out of the room,” he added.
   
Whether voters like Obama or not, the strategist says too many wrote off Republicans.
“I think as Democrats we got a little lackadaisical, and I think we beat on our chest too much,”  Saunders believes.

Saunders added a part of the reason some are unhappy with President Obama lies in their expectations.  He says no one can solve all the problems of this country in nine months.