With Michael Steele having been elected the Republican Party’s chairperson yesterday, the national political battle between Republicans and Democrats has suddenly become much more local. Not only is Steele from Maryland, but he’ll be doing battle with Virginia’s Tim Kaine, who was recently appointed to serve as the Democratic Party’s head.

That Steele and Kaine will lead their respective parties into the 2010 midterm elections and 2012 presidential elections is significant. In recent years, Virginia has served as evidence of how the Democratic Party may retain hope in otherwise conservative states — Kaine, former Governor and current Senator Mark Warner, and Senator Jim Webb have proven that the Commonwealth is no more red than it is a rich shade of purple. And while Maryland has been a relatively consistent Democratic state, Steele’s choice represents the gravity which many Republicans lend to the need to attract the diversity of voters in the D.C. suburbs, exurbs, and beyond. For two parties that are increasingly looking to amplify their national message and appeal, they’ve chosen a regional battleground to do so.

We’re looking forward to see how the political fights in the coming years pan out. Kaine was an obvious choice to helm the DNC, but Steele is a welcome addition to a party that should be happy that they didn’t elect someone like Chip Saltsman to lead their national efforts. (You know, they guy who sent out the CD with “Barack the Magic Negro” on it and proceeded to blame the media for the ensuing national forehead slapping.) Of course, if there’s one thing that Steele and Kaine won’t be able to settle, it’s which state has worse drivers.