www.roanoke.com

Here’s another “what if” to think about. Four years ago, the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor was a four-way battle between former Rep. Leslie Byrne, state Sen. Phil Puckett of Russell County, Del. Viola Baskerville of Richmond and then-Del. Chap Petersen of Fairfax County.
Byrne won, then went on to lose narrowly to Bill Bolling in November. But what if . . . What if Puckett hadn’t run? He never had much of a chance anyway. So if he hadn’t, where would the 19 percent of the vote he got had gone instead? Probably not to Byrne or Baskerville, both considered pretty left of center. Instead, his moderately-leaning, rural-based vote might have gone to Petersen.
Would Petersen have fared better in November? Probably so. Better enough to win? Maybe.
In that case, well, Petersen might have been the Democratic heir apparent.
Of course, you can play that “what if” game all night. But, the point is, elections have consequences. Even one four years ago.

-- Dwayne Yancey, senior editor

OTHER ELECTION ANALYSIS:
* Analysis: The most expensive governor's race ever
* Analysis: Where we'll be looking tonight
* Analysis: How many House seats will change hands tonight?
* Analysis: The biggest winning margin since . . .
* Analysis: The polls close; here's what's coming . . .
* Analysis: The saddest sight I've seen in politics
* Analysis: The first precinct reports in
* Analysis: An early return from Henrico County
* Analysis: A closer look at McDonnell's lead
* Analysis: McDonnell winning places that Democrats did four years ago
* Analysis: Henry County flips to McDonnell
* Analysis: Deeds running weaker in Northern Virginia
* Analysis: How Deeds did it -- a counter-factual look at McDonnell's victory
* Analysis: Three reasons why Obama hurt Deeds
* Analysis: Three reasons why Obama didn't matter
* Analysis: Are sweeps common or rare in Virginia?
* Analysis: Republicans take back the suburbs
* Analysis: Are primary winners destined to be November losers?
* Analysis: McDonnell may win biggest Republican victory ever
* Analysis: Should the Democrats blame their defeat on . . . Terry McAuliffe?
* Analysis: Did the Republicans win this race four years ago?

We have complete results here.