Democrats from around the state made their rounds through Augusta County Saturday, hoping to "Paint the Valley Blue". However, without a key contributor to the effort, Congressional hopeful Sam Rasoul and Sen. Creigh Deeds continued their rounds.

Former Gov. Mark Warner couldn't make it due to an injury to his leg, but the Democratic message was still spread.

Rasoul says, "America is hurting because of our energy crisis, needing to get these lobbyists and special interest groups out of Washington, bringing a sense of fiscal responsibility back to Washington, this is something Democrats and Republicans need to be focusing on."

Deeds, who's running for the nomination for Governor, says, "The tradition of this whole region for decades has been Republican in nature, but at the end of the day, it's not so much about Democrats and Republicans. It's about government improving the quality of life for ordinary people."

Signs, stickers, and pictures canvassed the entire area. Almost 500 residents from around the Valley gathered under the tent. Deeds says, in his 21 years in office, he has never seen an outcome like this.

He comments, "People are ready for change and I think that something phenomenal is going on and we're going to see the result on November 4."

Both Deeds and Rasoul agree it's time to move away from partisanship and towards leadership.

Rasoul says, "It's not about Republicans and Democrats anymore. We need solutions to move America forward and an event like this is actually bringing together Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in support of the message to move America forward."

Deeds says, "We've got to get past Democrats and Republicans and start getting things done, getting things done that affect ordinary people, and affect every person in this country."

Deeds is running against Del. Brian Moran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

On the other side of the party line, Republicans are also moving forward in the campaign season. Congressman Bob Goodlatte says the party will hold events in the future, hoping to "Paint the Valley Red."

Goodlatte says one of the most important things we need to have is an energy policy that creates more domestic energy in our country. That way, we increase our domestic sources of energy, gas prices subside, and more jobs become available.

In a phone interview, Goodlatte says it's not about party lines, but who can get the job done.

"Our campaign has been reaching out to voters all across the Valley and I think we'll do well," says Goodlatte. "We certainly always have and the response to the campaign this year has been very good. Our poll numbers have been good, so we think the campaign is going very well."

Goodlatte says his campaign is also pushing for a fairer form of taxation, lower taxes, and better enforcement of immigration laws.