Update: Many have been concerned that we shouldn't pay too much attention to the polls. I agree, and present...Obama's Virginia Headquarters. Now get to work!
(h/t RaisingKaine)
...
Two polls have confirmed it! Obama over 50%, and Clinton under 40%
SurveyUSA has Obama up 59-37. The poll was conducted of Democratic Primary voters in Virginia.
The second poll is Insider's Advantage, which shows Obama up 52-37.
More below the fold.
SUSA Cross-tabs now available
Obama leads among both women and men.
Clinton leads among seniors. Obama leads among those under age 65. Clinton leads by 6 in the Shenandoah. Obama leads by 9 in the DC suburbs, leads by 36 in Central VA and leads by 46 in Southeast VA. At stake are 101 proportionally allocated delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Here is VA's Delegate allocation:
As the good folks at RaisingKaine point out, the diference between 58% and 59% could be the difference between a 3-3 delegate split, and a 4-2 delegate split. EVERY VOTE WILL HELP.
mini-update Please read eparrot's explanation of delegate mathematics in Virginia. VERY helpful.
An Obama victory in Virginia will be a big win not only for the future of our country, but for our very talented Governor Tim Kaine, who endorsed Obama early and has spoken for, fundraised for, and hit the pavement on behalf of Obama in several early states.
Other sources indicate it could also be a big win for our junior Senator Jim Webb:
"I have some thoughts about the kind of person he should pick," says Kaine, "and I would give him that advice, but I don’t think it should be me." - Tim Kaine
But...
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, an early supporter of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, told the News-Press in Richmond last week that he felt Obama, if nominated, "would be well served" by selecting Virginia's junior U.S. Sen. Jim Webb as his running mate.
[...]
"I think he should choose someone who is strong in foreign policy and defense issues," he said. He then went on to drop the name of Sen. Webb.
Obama's staff has confirmed that Senator Obama will be competing in every region of the diverse state of Virginia.
Obama strategists have broken Virginia into four parts -- Northern Virginia, Richmond, Charlottesville and the Tidewater area -- all of which are filled with the voters they seek. He is expected to hold events in all four areas as he blitzes the region Sunday and Monday. Kevin Griffis, an Obama spokesman, said the Illinois senator will be more appealing than Clinton to Northern Virginians, including the area's significant number of self-described independents. In Virginia, voters are free to decide on Election Day which party's primary they will participate in."
GObama! More proof that Obama is the candidate with a 50-state strategy.
Update: As we saw in NH, polls mean jack squat. So...head on over to Obama's Virginia HQ and GET TO WORK!
Clintons are coming
But advisers to Clinton (N.Y.) are now mapping out a strategy that does not exclude Maryland and the District but focuses heavily on fast-growing outer suburbs such as Prince William and Loudoun counties in Northern Virginia and the state's economically struggling rural southwest, where unemployment is high among white working-class voters.
Raising Kaine also has a great Obama Action Center.
Update 2: Teacherken has a great diary about ME and VA demographics this morning. If you want to be a responsible citizen, you'll read it
Update 3: Mountaintop removal coal-mining, which is devastating Southwest Virginia, is extremely unpopular here in Virignia and elsewhere. Senator Obama's opposition to mountaintop removal means SO MUCH to the people in SWVA. Senator Clinton has ignored the issue.