'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America

Former Virginia Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr.'s bid for the White House as the Constitution Party's nominee could help resuscitate a political career cut short by a razor-thin loss in 2008 — but it also carries the risk of tipping the scales toward President Obama in the all-important swing state.

All four Virginia Republican U.S. Senate candidates will square off Saturday afternoon in Roanoke in the first of three debates organized by the state party — none of which are being televised or held at times that will likely draw significant attention from either the media or the electorate.