It’s a shame when Virginia politics finds itself living down to the lowered expectations of the most cynical voter.

We’re used to watching crazy political antics from afar, such as the Anthony Weiner fiasco in New York or San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. But we thought, perhaps naively, that Virginia is somehow better than that.

While Virginia’s gubernatorial race scandals aren’t as salacious as those of Weiner or Filner or lend themselves to the type of bawdy jokes that fill late night monologues, they are at some level even more disappointing.

On the one hand, there’s Ken Cuccinelli. The Attorney General and Republican hopeful is embroiled in a controversy over accepting gifts from a wealthy political donor, a spillover from the scandal that initially tarred current Gov. Bob McDonnell. While not as impressive as the largesse that Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams bestowed upon McDonnell, the alleged $18,000 in gifts Cuccinelli received is nothing to...