Virginia, Virginia, Virginia!

Virginia, the Mother of Presidents, also known as the Old Dominion; has for the first time since 1964 (when Lydon B. Johnson ran for President) gone from the Republican column to the Democrats. It was perhaps the final blow to McCain -- after all, he had lost Pennsylvania, his only 'true' state he was on the offensive in and then followed by the fall of Ohio. As Republicans known, its impossible to win the White House without winning Ohio and its 20 electoral votes. It was at this point with two of his three big targets had fallen to Obama-- everyone was watching for Virginia. And it happened.

At 11pm last night, the results for California, Oregon and Washington State came in and right after that: Virginia. Over the last few years the state has been turning bluer with the rise of younger voters and more affluent citizen moving into the northern counties of Loudon, Fairfax County (the most populous county in Virginia) and Prince William; which are perhaps the most liberal sections of Virginia since they border the District of Columbia and Maryland. Most political analysts agree that like most states, the Economy was the biggest priority voters made their vote based upon as they went to the polls and by reading the exit polls, they believed Obama's plan was better for the nation as it moves forward into the twenty-first century.

As of this morning, the popular vote is almost complete with 99% of the precincts reporting and it is the following:

• Obama: 1,791,154
• McCain: 1,635,292

Click this link to see the larger county result map of Virginia, courtsey of CNN.

Notice how close the result is: a difference of 155,862 votes -- this was so close, it was even closer than Florida in 2000 when it was decided by 500,000 votes. Virginia this year is the new Florida and with the party change in this critical state, this election is truly a realigning one, it will take a good thirty to forty years before we see another truly as symbolic and important this one.