RECENT POLLS
2008 Actual 11/4/2008	American Research 11/3/2008	Reuters/Zogby 11/3/2008	Mason-Dixon 11/2/2008	2004 Actual 11/2/2004

Virginia, one of the original 13 colonies and birthplace of four of the first five U.S. presidents, joined the Union in June 1788. In 1792, Virginia controlled 15.9% of all electoral votes, the largest concentration in U.S. history. But the commonwealth did not participate in the 1864 and 1868 elections due to secession. From the post-Civil War Reconstruction period through 1948, Virginians almost always sided with the Democrats in elections. From 1952 through 2004, Virginia had been reliably Republican (except for the landslide of Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater in 1964). What changed? In the early 1950s, Virginia politics was controlled by Democratic Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr., and his political machine. For the 1952 cycle, Byrd announced he would not be endorsing a candidate, saying “Silence is golden.” People knew this meant that it would be okay to vote for the Republican Dwight Eisenhower. 2008 saw a change, as changing demographics put the state in play and it was won by Barack Obama, 53% to 46% over John McCain. Virginia may be a swing state to watch in 2012.

year facts