VA-5: Hurt Unseats Perriello
Updated: CNN has called VA-05 for Robert Hurt.
With 99% of precincts reporting, it seems that 83,233 fewer people voted in 2010 than in 2008. Hurt also received 39,229 fewer votes then the GOP candidate did in 2008.
Posted at 10:15 by Noah Kristula-Green
CNN has just called VA-5 for Robert Hurt. In 2008, 317,076 people voted in VA-5. With 88% reporting, the VA-5 voter total is 210,509. The GOP candidate in 2008 was able to get 158,000 votes, so far Hurt's vote total is lower, currently 109,000.
It will be interesting to see if Hurt is able to win with fewer votes.
Posted at 9:02 by Noah Kristula-Green
58% of the precincts reporting in, and Robert Hurt is up 52% to 44%.
In 2008, Charlottesville gave Perriello nearly 15,000 votes. He currently only has about 5,700. If this holds, it is as good a sign of an enthusiasm gap as any.
Posted at 8:16 by Noah Kristula-Green
The Virginia fifth district congressional race has been one of the most intense of the cycle. Tom Perriello narrowly won his election here in 2008 and regaining the seat has been a top Republican priority. This district is the size of New Jersey, with the Democratic stronghold of Charlottesville in the north, and the more conservative counties in the south.
Initial reports out of Virginia suggest that despite a strong amount of liberal support, and a last minute showing by President Obama, that turnout has not been high in the more liberal areas. Two newspaper headlines perfectly preview the evening ahead.
From the Daily Progress, a Charlottesville based paper: "County reports 43.28% turnout as of 4 p.m".
From GoDanRiver.com, a Danville based news source (in more conservative territory) “UPDATE: Hurt-Perriello race brings higher-than-expected turnout”.
Perriello got 80% of the vote from Charlottesville in 2008. Charlottesville also includes the University of Virginia. A low turnout in Charlottesville won’t only portend a Perriello defeat, it also suggests low voter turnout among college students.
Posted at 6:28pm