The news yesterday was that former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder announced he would stay neutral in the race for governor this year between fellow Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell.

The Washington Post's Sandhya Somashekhar reports that Wilder, who in 1989 became the nation's first elected African-American governor, is staying out of the race, "despite multiple overtures by the White House that he throw his support behind" Deeds. While a Wilder endorsement is of questionable importance, "President Obama's repeated attempts to secure his support for Deeds gave Thursday's announcement national significance":

White House political director Patrick Gaspard spent two hours with Wilder one day in July, and the president called Wilder this month on Deeds's behalf. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a close friend of Obama's and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, had also encouraged Wilder to back Deeds.

The decision is a blow not only to Deeds, who has struggled to attract support from some leaders in the black community, but potentially for Obama, who is facing the first electoral test of his presidency in the [Virginia gubernatorial race].

"The requests made of me have been to endorse Mr. Deeds, the Democratic Candidate, for Governor. I refrain from doing so and will leave that choice to the voters," Wilder said in his statement.

If this whole scenario sounds strangely familiar, it's because we've seen it before. For some reason, Wilder seemingly approaches these elections with just one goal in mind: To be seen as important. And to be dramatic. And if you don't appreciate him, he can pout and become ornery. And it's usually to the detriment of his fellow Democrats. That is, until he comes through in the end. Which sometimes happens, but not always.

There are so many instances of this. In 1982, when then-Gov. Chuck Robb (D) announced the party would back Owen Pickett for the Senate, Wilder fumed. After he threatened to run against Pickett as an independent, Democrats caved in and endorsed another Senate candidate (who lost).

In 1993, he made it clear that he was not excited about Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Sue Terry, who was trying to succeed Wilder. She was defeated by George Allen (R). After the election, Wilder lashed out at her for being an inept candidate.

In 1994, Wilder announced an independent candidacy against Robb, who by now was a senator. But with little money and weak support, Wilder dropped his bid and endorsed Robb in the final weeks of the campaign. (When Robb defeated Oliver North that year, Wilder claimed he deserved some of the credit.)

In 1997 he refused to back Democrat Don Beyer in his gov race against Jim Gilmore (R).

In 2005, while he did endorse Tim Kaine for governor, who was elected, he repudiated Deeds, then running for attorney general (when he narrowly lost to the same Bob McDonnell).

Once again, Wilder is in the headlines because of his ambivalence towards the candidacy of a fellow Democrat. It's become a ritual.

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