Warner is a good guy, but he isn't from the South, he is from NoVA which is Mid-Atlantic like Maryland, Philly, etc. Yes, he did fairly well with southern VA voters but he's no Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter to carry lots of other states in the actual south, especially from the #2 spot, unless it is a total landslide nationally.

I agree that the power of VPs to bring along states, let alone regions, is way oversold. Still, Warner knows how to do the family values rap well and comes across as reasonable and, more importantly, competent.

Like it or not that does have a bit of logic to their line of thinking.

Virginia Democrats aren't national Democrats but, yes, the state has been competitive for both parties for quite some time at the state and local level.

My point, especially about Kerry, is that Northern Virginia voters do appear to be on their way to becoming national Democrats. If these trends continue that has electoral college implications down the road.

Also, I definitely agree with M1EK's comment. Very big difference.

But the GOP threw off its country club roots with Reagan in 1980, not with Bush in 2004.

No, in 1980 they grew FROM those roots to encompass more of the electorate; but in 2000-2008, Bush has severed those roots. Big difference. The country club guys liked Reagan (and I could live with him again, that's for sure).

I think that says more about Bush and the remaking of the Republican party than it does about traffic.

But the GOP threw off its country club roots with Reagan in 1980, not with Bush in 2004.

Some states are red in national elections, but elect Democratic governors and sometimes senators.

That's a fair point. Virginia Democrats aren't national Democrats but, yes, the state has been competitive for both parties for quite some time at the state and local level.

Some states are red in national elections, but elect Democratic governors and sometimes senators.

Bill

The same thing has happened in some similar areas, like parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. I'm guessing Orange and San Diego Counties will head this way too, even more so than they have already. The Republicans get some of these votes back or more in other more socially conservative parts of the country.

Virginia is continuing its downward slide into unabashed liberalism that began on that dreadful 10th of April 1865 at Appomattox.

Ever since then, the condition of the great commonwealth of Virginia has deteriorated.

Lieberman could have taken "red" states, including those in the south, in 2004 with a "fight terrorism but otherwise liberal" agenda. The democrats chose Kerry instead.