A recent article on the POLITICO website reported that the Obama Administration sent its political director to Richmond to meet with former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder. The reason: to convince Wilder to endorse the Democrat’s candidate for governor, state Sen. Creigh Deeds.

According to the story, in typical Wilder fashion he said no… at least not at this time.

I am sure no one is surprised by this. In fact, it would have been more surprising if he had said yes. Wilder is a constant thorn in the side of his fellow Democrats from Mark Warner to Tim Kaine to Chuck Robb. They’ve all had their issues with him.

But, I found one part of the article particularly interesting. POLITICO reports that there are two reasons for Wilder’s hesitancy on Deeds. First, Deeds hasn’t paid the former governor enough attention. Evidently he hasn’t called on him enough, hasn’t visited him. In essence, Creigh Deeds hasn’t made the pilgrimage to Richmond to kiss Doug Wilder’s ring and has for his seal of approval.

The second reason cited in the POLITICO article deals with Deeds’ record. In the story, Wilder is quoted as saying, “Tell me what the man has done? I haven’t heard it.”

It’s a valid question for anyone to ask of any politician, particularly one who is seeking a higher office. But, it’s a standard that Wilder only uses occasionally. Keep in mind he was one of the first, major Virginia politicians to endorse then-Senator Barack Obama for president. At the time, Obama had served just two years in the US Senate and had sponsored NO major legislation. Obama wasn’t a leader in the Senate. He was a back-bencher, freshman senator. And his record in the Illinois Legislature was no more distinguished.

So, it makes one wonder why a politician’s accomplishments now matter to the former Virginia governor?