As I noted earlier in the campaign, Creigh Deeds is relying heavily on the popularity of Sen. Mark Warner. And that trend is only continuing.

It’s easy to understand why Deeds is doing this. Warner is the most popular politician in Virginia with approval rating generally over 65%. That is remarkable, particularly in today’s political environment where we are seeing traditionally popular incumbents with some fairly low to dismal job approval numbers. Just look at Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas who is currently fighting for her political life and it’s not because of a scandal or gaffe. You can thank health care reform for her political troubles.

Warner appears to Virginia’s equivalent of Ronald Reagan. Reagan was known as the teflon president because very few negative things ever stuck to him. Mark Warner is much the same. The health care debate, the low approval ratings of Congress, even his tax increase passed while he was governor (the largest tax increase in Virginia history) haven’t brough Warner down.

And, Warner’s popularity runs across the board. In 2008, he won EVERY congressional district in Virginia. That includes even the most conservative districts where the voters were splitting their ticket for Democrat Mark Warner and Republican John McCain. He is golden with Democrats and independents and even well liked among Republicans.

So, enter Creigh Deeds. He wants to catch even a portion of Warner’s halo. That’s why Deeds mentions Warner in almost all of his speeches and his latest ad has only Warner speaking, asking his supporters to stick with the Warner coalition and vote for Creigh Deeds.

This is a tough environment for Democrats and Deeds has consistently run at least four points if not double digits behind Republican Bob McDonnell. Will Mark Warner be enough to pull Creigh Deeds across the finish line? If anyone can… Mark Warner is likely the man.