The grassroots, get-out-the-vote efforts candidates will undertake to get their supporters to the polls Tuesday will determine who wins several tight races for the Virginia General Assembly, political observers told The Examiner.
Northern Virginia has become the epicenter of a battle between the two major parties for control of the state Senate, where the Republicans now hold a 23-17 edge. Democrats have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into three races against Republicans Ken Cuccinelli, Jeannemarie Devolites Davis and Jay O’Brien.
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“Those Republicans are in the fights of their political lives,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington.
Republicans have countered with expensive television and mail advertising in recent weeks against Democrats Janet Oleszek, Chap Petersen and George Barker. But it is the candidates’ get-out-the-vote efforts Monday and today that will decide the contests.
“Candidates are going to spend whatever money they have left on get-out-the-vote efforts,” said Sean O’Brien, director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.
Virginia Democrats rolled out their three brightest political stars — former Gov. Mark Warner, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and Gov. Tim Kaine — for a rally at George Mason University on Monday morning. The trio, who have led the commonwealth’s Democrats out of the political wilderness, fired up activists by criticizing Republicans and reminding them of the deciding role that turnout can play.
“When you wake up Wednesday morning, because this is a low-turnout year, there will be races that are decided by just a few votes,” said Kaine, hoarse from a heavy campaign schedule. “When the turnout is small, the margins of victory are also small.”
Republicans, while stressing they do see their party losing its legislative clout, are also spending the final hours of election season making sure their supporters go to the polls today.
“Our indications are that right now, our party is gong to perform well,” said Jeff Ryer, a strategist for House legislators.
More information
» Polls in Virginia will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
» Polling place locations can be found at www.sbe.virginia.gov.
» Voters must bring government-issued photo identification or sign an affidavit swearing they are legally registered to vote.
