Virginia state senator and former gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds, D-Albemarle, turned 53 Tuesday, and took to Twitter to deliver thanks to his many followers:

“Thanks to all for the birthday wishes. Started the day with Stephen Stills, moved to Steve Earle, now taking in some Freewheelin Dylan.”

Deeds, from rural southwest Virginia, lost the 2009 gubernatorial race by Gov. Bob McDonnell, but has maintained a significant following on the web, garnering nearly 3,500 followers on Twitter and eclipsing the 2,000 mark for number of tweets.

Deeds’ tweeting prolificacy currently eclipses other notable Old Dominion Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Jim Moran, though he does currently trail (narrowly) incoming House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.

Deeds announced last month that he would run for re-election in the fall.