Virginia, the "mother of presidents," has produced eight presidents and had several 2008 prospects:
   -Former Gov. Mark Warner (D) considered a run for the White House, but ruled it out on Oct. 12, 2006. >
   -Sen. George Allen (R) was seen as a leading Republican prospect but his 2006 re-election campaign failed and he lost his Senate seat to Jim Webb (D). >
   -Former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R) formed a presidential exploratory committee on Jan. 9, 2007 and launched his campaign on April 26, but withdrew on July 14. >
 

General Election -- Tuesday, November 2, 2004

+Bush/Cheney (Rep.) 1,716,959 (53.68) Kerry/Edwards (Rep.) 1,454,742 (45.48) Badnarik/Campagna (Lib.) 11,032 (0.34) Peroutka/Baldwin (Const.) 10,161 (0.32) Write Ins 5,473 (0.17) Total........3,198,367   Write Ins included 2,521 votes for individuals who filed by Oct. 23 the Joint Declaration of Intent: Brown/Herbert 23; Cobb 104; Nader 2,393; J.Spence 1. There were 3,223,156 total voters; 3,001,097 voted in person and 222,059 (6.9%) voted absentee.

2004 Overview Democrats put some resources into Virginia but saw no improvement in the outcome as Bush-Cheney amassed a plurality of 262,217 votes (8.20 percentage points).  In terms of localities Bush won 102 (82 counties and 20 cities) and Kerry won 32 (13 counties and 19 cities).  Bush prevailed in nine congressional districts, while Kerry won only the 3rd and 8th CDs. General Election Details

Past Results

1996 Dole (Rep.)...........1,138,350 (47.10) Clinton (Dem.).......1,091,060 (45.15) Perot (Ref.)..............159,861  (6.62) Others (3).................27,371 (1.14) Total........2,416,642 1992 Bush (Rep.)..........1,150,517 (44.96) Clinton (Dem.).......1,038,650 (40.59) Perot (Ind.)..............348,639  (13.62) Others (3)..................20,859 (0.82) Total........2,558,665	2000 +Bush/Cheney (Rep.)  1,437,490 (52.47) Gore/Lieberman (Dem.)  1,217,290 (44.44) Browne/Olivier (Lib.) 15,198 (0.55) Buchanan-Foster (Ref.) 5,455 (0.20) Phillips-Frazier (Const.)  1,809 (0.07) Nader-LaDuke (Grn.) 59,398 (2.17) Write-Ins  2,807 (0.10) Total........2,739,447 2,789,808 total votes were cast for president -- 2,739,447 were counted.  50,361 (1.8%) were under or overvotes.	2000 Overview A Democrat has not won Virginia in the presidential race since LBJ carried the state in 1964.  That held true in 2000 as Bush-Cheney bested Gore-Lieberman with a plurality of 220,200 votes (8.03 percentage points).  Bush won in eight of the state's congressional districts, while Gore won in three (3rd, 8th and 11th).
	Notes: For an individual other than the nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties to appear on the general election ballot as a candidate for president he or she must have submitted signatures of not less than 10,000 qualified voters in Virginia, including at least 400 qualified voters from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts, to the State Board of Elections no later than noon August 25, 2000. Last day for voter registration: Oct. 10, 2000.

• Presidential Primary Petitions: May be circulated starting July 1, 2003; must be filed with the State Board of Elections by December 12, 2003 at 5:00 p.m..  State Board of Elections: "Deadlines, Duties and Ballot Access Requirements" (PDF)  Note: Under the Democratic Party of Virginia's Sign4Nine initiative, local Democratic committees, volunteers, and others across Virginia helped collect more than 5,000 signatures for the nine candidates in the Democratic presidential field.

• Last day to register to vote in the presidential preference primary: January 12, 2003.

Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.