Rachel Maddow examined what she described as a spectacle on Friday behind the three candidates picked by Virginia Republicans through an unusual set of circumstances.

“Heading into the November election, Virginia Republicans may look like a slow-motion disaster,” Maddow said. “But Virginia Republicans hand-picked all these guys. Maybe they don’t see these guys as a problem.”

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At the top of the ticket, she explained, is current state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R), who, besides, “defending sodomy laws,” convinced his party to determine its nominee in a statewide convention this year, rather than the customary primary vote.

“Conventions are where the ideological hardcores go for a pleasant weekend of tri-corn hats and pledges to keep the government off your lawn,” Maddow said.

Since then, Maddow said, Cuccinelli has tried to make himself appeal to voters closer to the political center. But, those efforts were being undone by the running mate selected for him at that convention, Bishop E.W. Jackson, who gained attention via a YouTube clip in which he accused the Democratic Party of forging “an unholy alliance” with Planned Parenthood responsible for a campaign of genocide against black infants.

And the convention’s choice to succeed Cuccinelli, state Sen. Mark Obenshain (R), also garnered attention after it was revealed that he introduced legislation in 2009 that would have required women to report their miscarriages to police or risk jail time.

On top of that, Maddow said, current Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) is facing not only an investigation over his ties to a campaign donor over unreported gifts, but allegations from his former chef that McDonnell’s children stole food, Gatorade and protein powder from the kitchen at the governor’s mansion.

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“If you like the way he’s governing, please vote for Ken Cuccinelli, and for that guy with the ‘gay Planned Parenthood KKK’ thing, and for the other guy who wants you to report your last heavy period to the sheriff within 24 hours, just in case,” Maddow summarized.

Watch Maddow examine the trio now representing Virginia’s Republicans, aired Friday on MSNBC, below.

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