As you say, the 2008 election will have far-reaching consequences for Americans in areas including national security, the economy, and faith and values.  I personally believe that pocketbook issues will have the deepest impact on state and local politics, though. 

Americans are concerned about ensuring future economic growth, creating more and better jobs, and guaranteeing greater prosperity.  Americans are also hurting right now and they expect solutions.  I'd add that there's a bright-line distinction at the national level between John McCain, who is offering solutions to bring down gas prices, economic policies that would drive job creation, and a plan to keep taxes low for working families while Barack Obama is focused on higher taxes and bigger government, and really has very little to offer where energy is concerned.  Whether you live in Reston or Richmond, that contrast can't be missed. Voters will remember it in November.

Judges are always important, but that's especially true this year.  If Barack Obama is elected, he'll likely have the option of nominating at least one, but probably two, Supreme Court justices.  It's clear that he would nominate activists with pre-determined agendas, and we'd see more legislating from the bench.  Although Obama spoke positively about the court's decision on the D.C. handgun ban, and negatively about its decision regarding the ability of the death penalty to be used in cases of child rape, the fact is that he has said he would nominate justices like those who favored upholding that handgun ban, and who ruled that the death penalty could not be used in child-rape cases.  Those positions are not consistent with the provisions of our Constitution; nor are they consistent with Virginian values.

We really need a comprehensive, national plan to guarantee our energy independence, but there's plenty that state legislatures can do to move the ball forward, too.  For example, John McCain wants to make the federal R&D tax credit permanent to help develop new energy-efficient technologies and clean, alternative sources of energy.  State legislatures could focus on offering similar incentives.  In addition, John McCain has proposed lifting the moratorium on domestic exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf, and allowing states to have more control over offshore parcels.  A bill already has been introduced this year in the Virginia Legislature to allow offshore exploration.  If the moratorium is lifted, then Virginia and other states will be able to act to increase energy exploration and production, which would in turn reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  Coal also is an abundant resource in states like Virginia, and legislators can take steps to promote development of clean coal technology.  That is, incidentally, something that John McCain supports, whereas Barack Obama proposes taxing coal and has talked about banning traditional coal facilities -- policies that would not help us achieve energy independence or help Virginians.