When you’re reading a story about Doug Wilder and endorsements, do you ever think you’re in a Virginia version of the movie Groundhog Day? As a reporter, who has been covering the former governor’s dance with his fellow Democrats for the past 12 years, I can assure you I feel that way.

Every election cycle, Wilder stays quiet over whether he’ll endorse his party’s candidate for the senator, governor, lt. governor, attorney general… probably even dog catcher.

After enough silence, the candidates will start making their pilgrimage to see Wilder. Sometimes it’s a very public event, but often it’s done quietly, only to have Wilder announce that a candidate has come asking for his blessing.

Then for weeks or months, Wilder will continue to dance around on the head of a pin, refusing to officially endorse the candidate. He’ll make them sweat it out, all while reporters waste more time and paper producing stories with headlines like “Will He or Won’t He?” or “What’s Wilder’s Next Move?” or “Will Wilder Leave Dems Out Cold?”

If the former governor isn’t getting enough attention, he’ll generally throw out a few criticisms at the Democratic candidate. His critiques generally focus on taxes or guns, two of Wilder’s pet issues.

Then, in the final few days of the campaign Doug Wilder usually comes home and reluctantly endorses the Democrat. That way he can be the shining knight who saved the day. He remains relevant 20 years after his four years in the governor’s mansion.

I have seen this movie play out so many times. Wilder did it with his arch nemesis Chuck Robb in 2000. He toyed with his former campaign manager, Mark Warner, in 2001 asking him some of the toughest questions of the campaign during a debate Wilder sponsored and moderated. And in 2005, Wilder refused to endorse Creigh Deeds in his bid for attorney general.

And so, here we are again with Doug Wilder saying he won’t endorse Creigh Deeds, this time for governor. Tomorrow, all the headlines will scream “Wilder Holds Out on Deeds.”

Will Wilder really not endorse Deeds… or will we be revisiting this topic many time between now at election day? My money is on the latter.