2009.11.03
Analysis: The polls close; here's what coming
The polls around Virginia have just closed. Over the next few hours, we’ll be reporting election results -- and trying to understand why things are turning out the way they are.
Before we begin, let me take a few moments to introduce myself and lay down some of the ground rules for tonight.
I’m Senior Editor for New Channels for The Roanoke Times. That’s a fancy way of saying I’m in charge of new ventures. So most of the time, I’m overseeing our community news publications in Botetourt, Salem and Southwest Roanoke County, or our New River Valley bureau (admittedly not a new venture any longer), and the Blue Ridge Business Journal.
But in a previous life, I covered politics -- and on election night, I still do. I wrote a book about Doug Wilder’s political career : “When Hell Froze Over” (Taylor Publishing, 1988.) Of course, Wilder’s still very much a lively figure in Virginia politics. President Obama expended a lot of time this year trying to cajole Wilder into endorsing Creigh Deeds. When Wilder didn’t, well, that was big news.
I suspect we’ll have some more big news as the night goes on.
Here are some of the topics I expect to deal with tonight:
* The Obama factor in today’s election.
* Some historical trends that played a factor -- and will continue to.
* Where each party goes from here, as we look at next year’s congressional races, and the 2013 governor’s race. (It’s never too early to speculate!)
The analysis you’ll get here tonight will be hope, I rooted, in my study of the returns, and flavored with my background in covering politics. I might share some opinions, to be sure -- but I hope they’ll be opinions rooted in facts. I’m not here to say Candidate X is a right or wrong about policy or ideology, but I’ll surely venture some thoughts about who ran a good campaign and who didn’t.
Mostly, we’ll be looking at the statewide picture, but I’ll take some time to try to explain what’s happening in some of the local races.
But first, before we have numbers, let me share a story . . . .
-- 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 . . .
Complete election coverage: Posts from precincts around the valley, candidate profiles, results and more.
