2008.11.04
Analysis: Obama pulls ahead in Virginia
The State Board of Elections now gives Obama a slight lead in Virginia. Here are some the reasons why:
Those exurban counties in Northern Virginia we've talked about are coming in heavy for him.
We now have 85 percent of the vote in from Prince William County, and Obama is taking 55 percent there.
In Loudoun County, we have 79 percent reporting, and Obama has upped his share there to 53 percent.
Both of those were counties Bush carried four years ago.
Only 35 percent of Fairfax County is in, but Obama is pulling 58 percent there, about 5 points ahead of Kerry four years ago.
Also of note: Obama has now pulled ahead down in Dickenson County. With 64 percent of the vote in, he now clings to a 50-49 percent lead there. If that holds, Dickenson would be the only locality west of Radford he's winning.
But with those Northern Virginia numbers, it may not matter.
-- Dwayne Yancey, senior editor
