The Washington Post’s enthusiastic endorsement of Democrat Creigh Deeds on Sunday was welcomed by the struggling Deeds campaign, but was also seen as an opportunity by Virginia conservatives to tie the Democrat’s candidacy to a newspaper they view as liberal. “Mr. Deeds,” the Post said in its endorsement, “has run an enormous and possibly fatal political risk by saying bluntly that he would support legislation to raise new taxes dedicated to transportation.”

That was music to the ears of many Republicans and conservatives. “It’s clarifying,” Republican Party of Virginia spokesman Tim Murtaugh told The Examiner. “There is no question that Creigh Deeds wants to raise taxes. The Post thinks that’s keen. If you look at it that way, frankly, we’re happy about the endorsement.”