The drama is still playing out in Virginia's 5th congressional district. On Wednesday night, the difference between Virgil Goode and Tom Perriello was only 31 votes. Now, Perriello's lead appears to have widened to over 600 votes. The local Democrats seem pretty bullish about Perriello pulling this off:
However, state Democratic Party Chairman Richard Cranwell called Perriello on Thursday to congratulate him on what he said appears to be his inevitable victory.
“Bedford is the only major area still out. I looked at the votes from election night, and I don't see how any change” would be enough to overcome Perriello's lead of more than 600 votes, Cranwell said.
If the final difference is less than 1% of the vote, Goode can ask for a recount. Given the total votes tallied, that margin would have to be a lot larger than 600 to avoid one. If Perriello wins, this will be one of the bigger congressional upsets--Perriello is Obamaesque on ideology ("we're talking about the politics of right and left, this is about right and wrong") but I've also heard him dismissing "Clintonian triangulation". VA-5 has been a reliably conservative district for twelve years, it may just go to an unashamed liberal who can speak convincingly about energy and international diplomacy.
Of course, If Perriello does win it just proves that VA-5 is a center-right district.
--A. Serwer
