Virginia Republicans were in apology mode Monday over a Halloween-themed email that depicted a zombie-like President Obama with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.

The northern Virginia-based Too Conservative blog first flagged the mailer from the local Republicans in Loudon County promoting a local holiday parade. It also offers a ghoulish caricature of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi D-San Francisco).

“I am no fan of Barack Obama, but putting up a photo of him as a zombie with a bullet hole in his head?” the blog stated. “Someone should send this to the US Secret Service.”

Virginia Democrats sought to use the incident to put Republicans on the defensive just over a week before state legislative elections, calling on candidates in tight races to condemn the mailer.


A spokesman for Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell told the Washington Post that the email was “shameful and offensive” and that those responsible should immediately apologize.

“The disgusting image used today on a mass e-mail has no place in our politics. Ever,” Virginia Republican Party Chairman Pat Mullins told the paper.