Will Virginia Stay Blue In This Presidential Election?

In 2008, Barack Obama was the first Democrat to take Virginia since 1964. In 2012, the contest between the president and Republican hopeful is still too close to call.

President Barack Obama took Virginia in 2008, marking the first time the Commonwealth has gone blue since 1964. But it's too early to tell which way voters will go on Tuesday, or whether the changing demographics of Virginia and voter enthusiasm will have an effect on which candidate takes Virginia's 13 electoral votes. Virginia is one of just a few swing states in this year's presidential election.  “The challenge for the Obama campaign is to try to rekindle the magic,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “You had great excitement among African Americans, and young people especially, four years ago. The indication so far is that there’s some enthusiasm, but not comparable to four…

• Photos (1)

RNC Chair Invigorates Volunteers in Loudoun

Reince Priebus goes on campaign office tour two weeks before Nov. 6 elections

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus dropped by candidate Mitt Romney’s Loudoun field offices Thursday to thank the volunteers and campaign staff, and to urge them to keep up the work. During his stop at the Leesburg office — where volunteers took a break from calling potential voters and donors — Priebus noted he got his start in politics running a phone bank in Kenosha, Wisc. Because of the experience he’s gained since, he knows to keep pushing to the finish line, even with the bump Romney experienced following the first of a trio of debates with President Barack Obama. “We’ve had a nice run, but tomorrow’s a new day. We need to win tomorrow, we need to win next week,” Priebus said, following up with a mantra both …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (12)

VA Up For Grabs with Two Weeks Until Election

New poll out Friday puts Virginia votes in 'toss-up' status with Romney ahead of Obama 50 percent to 47 percent in Virginia.

Can Bruce Springsteen help President Obama win Virginia? The popular singer will perform in a free concert Tuesday in Charlottesville on the president's behalf. He did the same for the president last week in Ohio, considered another must-win state in the election. The fight for Virginia votes is getting more intense. With Election Day two weeks from Tuesday, Virginia is becoming one of the most important swing states in the presidential election, and the candidates are pulling out all the stops in trying to win the state on Nov. 6. Mitt Romney, Ann Romney, Michelle Obama and the president have each made stops in Leesburg during the campaign. "I consider it one of the three crucial states," said Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Romney Calls for Return to American Values

During stop in Leesburg, Romney continued pressing his case against Obama.

While Republican candidate Gov. Mitt Romney ended his campaign stop in Leesburg Wednesday with comments that he wants to bring America together, one of his supporters kicked off the event by seemingly questioning President Barack Obama’s faith. “I know who Romney prays to. That’s the same god that I pray, too,” said musician Andy Griggs, adding that he wasn’t so sure about other folks in Washington, DC. An estimated 8,000 people showed up to see Romney speak at Ida Lee Park in Loudoun County. Both presidential candidates and their wives have each made at least one stop in Loudoun, considered a bellwether of Virginia. And Virginia is one of the key swing states in this year’s campaign, pitting challenger Romney against the president. See …

•  26 Comments
• Photos (5)

Romney, Dennis Miller Rally Fans at Ida Lee

Stop in Leesburg comes day after second debate with President Barack Obama.

Dennis Miller joined Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for a campaign stop Wednesday at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, Va. A day after his second debate with President Barack Obama on Tuesday in New York, Romney criticized Obama for not laying out a second-term agenda in front of a crowd of about 8,000. Nationally, experts have been drawn to Loudoun as key to whether Virginia swings red or blue in in November. The presidential candidates and their families have made a number of stops in Loudoun County this election season: First Lady Michelle Obama was at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds earlier this month; Ann Romney led a "Rally for Mitt" at Cavallo Farm in September. President Barack Obama stopped in Leesburg in August. Romney was …

•  11 Comments
• Photos (22)

Romney Stops in Manassas After Tapping Ryan

The presumed Republican presidential nominee and his running mate hit the campaign trail in swing state Virginia.

For those who may have been living in a bubble over the weekend, Mitt Romney picked U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, to share the Republican ticket in this fall’s presidential campaign. And shortly after the announcement, Romney, the presumed Republican nominee, and Ryan hit the road, making a stop in Manassas. Northern Virginia is considered critical to either candidate winning Virginia, which President Barack Obama won in 2008. Obama is only the second Democrat to win Virginia since 1952. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell was believed to be among those Romney considered to run for vice president. Check out photos from Romney’s Manassas stop. Or read comments from other readers and post your thoughts about the pick.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Obama Plans Office in Loudoun

The president blankets Virginia, a state many consider key to his reelection, and that voted for him in 2008.