Young Republicans in North Carolina are heading north of the border this weekend to volunteer in the Virginia governor's race, Rob Christensen reports.

Polls show Republican Bob McDonnell leading Democrat Creigh Deeds.

"The outcome of the elections in Virginia could set the tone for what happens in North Carolina in 2010; similar to the 1993-94 election cycles," said Jonathan Brady, chairman of the N.C. Young Republicans. "If won by Republicans, these races could spark a much needed fire in individuals to get out and work for Republican candidates here in North Carolina."

The two-day trip is being paid for by the Young Republican National Federation and the Virginia Victory program.

Gov. Beverly Perdue is scheduled to speak at a fundraiser for Virginia State Sen. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee for governor in the Old Dominion, on Oct. 1.

The event is at the Capital City Club has a suggested minimum contribution of $500 and an A-list of hosts that includes former Gov. Jim Hunt, Democratic organizer and fundraiser Bruce Thompson, uberfundraiser Peter Reichard and Ruffin Poole, lawyer and former aide to Gov. Mike Easley. Poole most recently made the news when a federal grand jury investigating issues surrounding Easley asked for volumes of communication between the Department of Motor Vehicles and a handful of then-Easley aides, including Poole.

Deeds had been trailing behind the Republican nominee, former Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell. But McDonnell has been on defense since a recent Washington Post report by N&O alum Amy Gardner highlighted his graduate school thesis while at CBN (now Regent) University, founded by televangelist Pat Robertson. The thesis, among other arguments, characterized working women and feminists as "detrimental to the family." The thesis was written in 1989, but the Post chronicled how McDonnell has pursued 10 of the policy goals articulated in the paper during his 14-year public career. 

Sen. John McCain's PAC is running a Google ad using Sen. Richard Burr's name.

The ad shows up on Google searches for "Richard Burr." It reads:

Richard Burr NC Senator
Join John McCain's Country First
To Support Candidates Like Burr!
CountryFirstPAC.com/Candidates

The link goes to a page where McCain notes candidates he is currently supporting: Chris Christie for New Jersey governor, Bob McDonnell for Virginia governor, Henry McMaster for South Carolina attorney general, Rob Portman for Ohio senator, Vaughn Ward for Idaho Congress member, Meg Whitman for California governor, and Burr. 

Burr is friends with McCain and campaigned for him in 2008.