Obama builds lead in Virginia (Suffolk Uni poll...51 to 39)

Source: boston.com

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 6, 2008 12:22 PM
Barack Obama has built a substantial lead over Republican rival John McCain in the traditionally GOP stronghold of Virginia, according to a new poll released today.

Obama leads McCain 51 percent to 39 percent among likely voters, the Suffolk University poll found, echoing other recent polls that show the Democrat surging in battleground states.

"Barack Obama has built a coalition of suburban DC area progressives from the north, African-American voters from the south, and young voters statewide," David Paleologos, director of the Political Research Center at Suffolk University in Boston, said in a statement. "That broad-based support suggests a 44-year Republican run in the Old Dominion State, dating back to Lyndon Johnson's victory in 1964, is in jeopardy."

The poll suggests that last Thursday's vice presidential debate helped the Democratic ticket. Three fourths of likely voters watched the debate, which tied for the second most-watched debate ever, and 46 percent said Democrat Joe Biden bested Republican Sarah Palin, while 26 percent said Palin won and 20 percent said neither did. One-third of respondents said the debate made them more likely to vote Obama, while 18 percent said they were more likely to support McCain, and 47 percent said the debate didn't affect their decision.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/10/obama_builds_le.html

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Virginia GOP fears McCain could lose state

Virginia Republicans are warning that John McCain's prospects for winning a state that has been in the GOP column in every presidential election since 1964 could be in jeopardy. With Barack Obama treating the Old Dominion like a battleground state and reliable polls showing a margin-of-error race there, some are cautioning that McCain is making a critical mistake by allowing the Democratic nominee to outpace him in terms of visits and resources committed.

The two best indicators of which states the campaigns are serious about -- time and money -- tell the story.

Since wrapping up the Democratic nomination in June, Obama, his wife, Michelle, and his running mate, Joe Biden, have visited the commonwealth a combined 12 times.

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Obama is also plowing millions into Virginia, blanketing the airwaves with TV and radio ads, filling up mailboxes with leaflets and, along with the state party, operating 49 campaign offices.

Together, McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, have held just one campaign event in Virginia. And the campaign has taken its ads off the pricey Washington, D.C., network affiliates that reach into the entire swath of the Northern Virginia, the commonwealth's most populous region.

more:http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081006/POLITICS01/810060420

Is it hot in here? I feel a tad giddy... :)

but I just listened to a story on NPR this morning about the get out the vote efforts at Liberty U: encouraging out-state-students to register in VA, passing out registration forms in dorms and classrooms, cancelling classes on election day, etc.

It's not that I want any American to be discouraged from voting, but when I think of the wretched Jerry Falwell queering our chances from beyond the grave I feel a little vomity.

Click here for the story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95414732

Its a shame a big beer bash before the 4th wont help there. No mater what polls may say, we need to stay motivated here people.

and i see it more and more often in the campaign stories...

The Commonwealth's nickname is "THE OLD DOMINION"...stop tacking on 'state' at the end plzkthxbye

Virginia rocks!