Reliably GOP State Is Up for Grabs

[cal04]

As Obama Steps Up Intensive Voter-Registration Effort, Republicans Say Old Dominion Remains Conservative
This year's Fredericksburg Fair had the usual attractions: Hercula the Giant Horse and Black Jack the Giant Steer, the carnival rides and the four-wheeler races. But added to the mix was something Virginians had not seen for decades -- the earnest campaigning of a competitive presidential race.

As the Friday-night crowds entered the fairgrounds in a part of the state on the dividing line between its liberal north and conservative south, volunteers for Sen. Barack Obama's campaign set up post to register voters. "It's time for a change," said one volunteer, Josef Jazvic, 39, an information technology worker helping on a campaign for the first time. "The fact that is even up for grabs tells you a lot."

Virginia hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, and President Bush carried the state twice, by nine and eight points. But the campaigns of Obama and his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, agree that it has become one of the nation's new swing states, joining the likes of Ohio, Florida and other battlegrounds in determining who will win the White House. The result in the Old Dominion has been a burst of political activity unlike any in modern times.

(snip)
The Obama campaign believes it can win by duplicating the success of Kaine, Sen. James Webb and former governor Mark R. Warner, who have led a Democratic revival in Virginia that would be complete with a win on the presidential level. The campaign hopes to capitalize on Bush's lack of popularity, the changing demographics in Northern Virginia, high turnout -- particularly among younger voters and African Americans -- and a volunteer base that delivered a big win in the Democratic primary in February.

[NYC_SKP]

1. graph...good...

[TexasObserver]

2. I think we will win Virginia

and we don't need a Virginian on the ticket to do so

[cbc5g]

3. Shit I missed the Fair what was I thinking

[opihimoimoi]

4. Don't tell them Pubs...the poor things have been traumatized into jelly...I mean, look at um...mum-

bling incoherently for the past 3 weeks....