Hannah Moriarty

dailypress.com

We’ve got a front-row seat this election

Biden just left, Obama is here today and reports say Palin may soon be coming to Hampton Roads.

By KIMBALL PAYNE

247-4765

September 10, 2008

Faced with a narrowing election window, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain continue to focus attention, time and money in Virginia, guaranteeing Hampton Roads voters a front-row seat during a presidential election for the first time in more than 40 years.

Today, Obama is scheduled to appear at an invitation-only gathering at Granby High School in Norfolk to discuss upgrading and reforming public education, while McCain and running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin share the stage in Fairfax in Northern Virginia.

The simultaneous events add weight to the ongoing argument that Virginia is going to be a crucial battleground state come November, even though the state hasn’t backed a Democrat for the White House since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

“It’s a scene that we’re going to get used to the next few weeks,” said Jared Leopold, spokesman for the Democratic effort in Virginia. “This is post-Labor Day and they are coming to Hampton Roads — it’s clearly a battleground. A lot of people are there who are new to the state and are still making up their minds.”

For decades, the state has largely been an afterthought during presidential campaigns, but Virginia’s prominence on this year’s shrinking campaign schedule helps underscore the state’s importance. Election Day is 56 days away. Cut out days for presidential and vice-presidential debates plus a few days before each for preparation along with the odd day here and there — and there are only about 40 days left for campaigning. With limited time and a lengthy list of swing states that includes Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania, each campaign stop is vital.

Obama is coming to Virginia for the fifth time since he assumed the Democratic mantle, and this will be his second swing through Hampton Roads in the past month. On Tuesday, Obama courted Democrats and independent voters during a townhall near the Kentucky border in Lebanon.

Southwestern Virginia is getting prominent attention, too, but high-profile Democrats have pinpointed Hampton Roads. Vice presidential nominee Joe Biden held a discussion on national security in Virginia Beach last week and in early August Michelle Obama came to Norfolk to raise money and woo military families.

Today’s speech in Northern Virginia marks McCain’s first return visit to Virginia since accepting the Republican nomination. In fact, the last time that McCain visited Virginia for a public event was when he came to Hampton Roads with Republican Sen. John Warner before the state’s Feb. 12 primary.

Next week, there are unconfirmed reports that Palin will pay her first visit to southeastern Virginia for an event in Virginia Beach. Palin was a relative unknown before McCain tapped her for the second slot on the ticket two weeks ago and this is her first campaign swing since the Republican National Convention. Palin’s conservative background has played well with religious voters less than enamored with independent streaks in McCain’s past.

“Virginia is a very important state to the McCain campaign and has been for a long time,” said Gail Gitcho, a McCain spokeswoman in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Staff writer Austin Bogues contributed to this report.

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Here is why Hannah chose this article…

I chose this article because it shows how tight the election is and how each state is important to winning the election. With little time left and such a tight race the candidates need all the votes they can get so they are targeting the swing states. Most of these states have been ignored in past elections but know they are receiving all the attention.