Stay in Bed Sen. Warner!

Flu-ridden ex-governor stumps for Deeds

By MATTHEW STABLEY

Updated 9:15 PM EST, Fri, Oct 30, 2009

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U.S. Sen. Mark Warner may have risked the health of the Democratic Party in Virginia with his appearance for gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds Friday.

Warner was at Deeds' campaign event at Cheeseburger in Paradise in Prince William County Friday to introduce the Democratic candidate -- despite having the flu. U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly passed the mic to the senator.

"Did you notice that Gerry didn't give us this great, warm embrace?" Warner asked. "I got the flu. And if I got myself out of bed to come here, to be here for Creigh Deeds, I don't want to hear any excuses about not anybody getting out for Creigh Deeds, [Democratic House of Delegates candidate] Luke Torian and [Democratic House of Delegates candidate]Phil Nichols on Tuesday."

But do Deeds' supporters also have to suffer illness on Election Day to prove their love? What if those supporters at Friday's event voting early Tuesday and spreading germs throughout the polling places, kicking off a pandemic in Virginia? What if those supporters can't get out of bed Tuesday and Deeds loses a narrow election?

Recent polls show Republican Bob McDonnell with a healthy lead over Deeds, and McDonnell did, after all, win by an incredibly narrow margin when the two ran against each other for attorney general in 2005. Deeds needs all the votes he can get.

OK, we kid. But germs did cause concern.

Connolly tried to take a bullet for Deeds and grab the microphone from Warner himself, but he was a bit too slow. Deeds took it first before the congressman snatched it away from him and wiped Warner off of it.

Deeds himself knew well where Warner should have been Friday:

"Our senator is sick, and we need to send him home to bed!"