Richmond, Virginia (CNN) -- It's official: Ted Cruz is Democratic enemy number one. In the span of a year, Cruz has transformed himself from a little-known Senate candidate into the face of a government shutdown that has roiled Washington politics and raised questions about the viability of the American political process. Democrats are now raising his profile at every turn, in political campaigns from Brooklyn to San Diego, casting him as a right wing zealot and hoping to hang the controversial tea party icon around the necks of every Republican office-seeker in the country. Cruz: Use debt ceiling debate for leverage
@highlight
Democrats cast Cruz as right wing zealot, hope to hang him around every Republican office-seeker
@highlight
"We're more than happy to have a debate with them" over Cruz, Democratic operative says
@highlight
Website depicts Cruz telling an anguished House Speaker Boehner, "I got it from here, bud"
@highlight
Virginia governor candidate in awkward position, slamming shutdown while appearing with Cruz
Democrats working on the Virginia governor's race tested Cruz's name in a focus group with roughly 30 undecided voters race this past weekend, according to a person familiar with the session, which was held in the @placeholder suburbs where the shutdown's impact is felt most acutely.
"It's an interesting strategy that works to the benefit of Democrats who want to attach his brand to the GOP at a time when he's underwater in approval ratings, but it also works to Cruz's benefit because it elevates him with the @placeholder base," he said.