Not long ago, the Republican party of Virginia was chuckling that the Obama campaign’s operations in the state had largely ignored this year’s state legislative elections. Now Jeremy Bird, national field director for Obama for America, is finally e-mailing the folks on their list in Virginia:

Jim,

This weekend is our last chance to get out the vote for the Virginia elections on Tuesday.

The only way we’ll win elections like these is by making sure people in our communities get to the polls. That’s what we’re doing every day from now until Tuesday — getting the word out about these elections on the phones and by reaching out in our neighborhoods.

If you can pitch in just a couple of hours, think of how many people you could reach who might not otherwise vote. That could make the difference in an election like this.

. . . This week, just one year out from Election Day 2012, thousands are committing to help build this campaign in their communities. It’s not just about winning elections on Tuesday. The work we’re doing is building the neighborhood teams that form the foundation of how we organize, from now through next year. People like you are the ones who create and carry out the strategies that grow this campaign.

You’ve already stepped up to be a part of this organization — thank you. Now can you take that commitment to the next level by helping to shape the outcome on Tuesday?

RSVP here:

I notice they don’t even mention the offices on the ballot this year, much less the candidates . . . Come to think of it, this message doesn’t even use the word “Democrat.”