USA: Virginia, for decades a stronghold for the Republican party, is now a swing state in the 2008 presidential election
Record ID:
328838
USA: Virginia, for decades a stronghold for the Republican party, is now a swing state in the 2008 presidential election
- Title: USA: Virginia, for decades a stronghold for the Republican party, is now a swing state in the 2008 presidential election
- Date: 30th October 2008
- Summary: F(AM) CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA (OCTOBER 29, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MONTICELLO, HOME OF THOMAS JEFFERSON THE THIRD AMERICAN PRESIDENT VARIOUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA OBAMA SIGN ON UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA DORM ROOM SIGN FOR MCCAIN COUNTRY FIRST STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS WALKING AT UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- Embargoed: 14th November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAC8JDUBI39GP91ZANNZIXOB91Y
- Story Text: The battleground state of Virginia is known as the mother of American presidents.
Eight U.S. presidents were born in Virginia, including favourite son, Thomas Jefferson, who lived at the home he built Monticello. Jefferson was a slave owner, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third president of the United States.
Now Virginia could play a key role in yet another presidential election - as one of abut a dozen swing states - including Florida and Ohio - that could go for either Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama.
Virginia has not voted Democratic since 1964 when southerner Lyndon Johnson was on the ticket, but polls now show Obama with a solid lead over McCain.
At the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, professor Guin McKee says what happens in Virginia may reflect back on the 1960s, when Johnson, fresh from signing a civil rights law, told an aide that he had just lost the south for a generation.
"That what we are talking about in this election has the Democratic Party finally regained a foot hold in the South?," Mckee said.
On a campus that Jefferson built, the University of Virginia, first time voter 18 year old Nicole Decredico still has not made up her mind less than a week before the election. She is one of about 6 percent of U.S. voters still on the fence.
"I like that the Democrats are more socially liberal, but but I am more conservative in terms of economics and therefore I waiver more towards the Republicans. I haven't really decided which is more important to me,"
she said.
Paul Quinn, a McCain supporter, says he's not sure why Obama has the lead.
"I am not sure if more people are leaning liberal this election because of a knee jerk reaction against the Bush Administration or it is because Obama supporters have been fired up."
Obama's message of change has fired up 24-year-old Christopher Riggs, who said, "There needs to be a paradigm shift in American politics right now and I think Barack Obama and the democratic ticket will bring that this election season."
But in small Virginia towns, like Gordonsville, change is not always what some people are looking for. Greg Dudley has already cast his ballot for McCain because he fears Obama's economic plans. "I voted for him because I don't think the spread the wealth thing will work," he said.
Some Virginians, like Hap Connors say this election is about the New South versus the Old South.
"I grew up in the Old South, in the Deep South and while we respect those truths and those values and we have to be open to new traditions and new ways of thinking."
As autumn descends, Virginia voters are asking whether the change in season heralds a change in the political landscape -- a verdict that will come November fourth when the 44th President of the United States is selected. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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