Open Thread: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, & 10th (Update 7 p.m. – Polls Closed)

By JR Hoeft | Monday, November 1st, 2010 | Politics

Contributors to Bearing Drift will use this thread to update you on what we’re hearing regarding the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th Congressional Districts in Virginia.

Check this post frequently throughout the day for updates.

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Update 7 p.m.: Polls are now closed in Virginia. Check out our live-blog of election results and projections; photos, interviews, speechifying. Don’t forget, when you use the hashtag #vpod your tweet will appear in the liveblog too.

Update 5:23 p.m. (Josh St. Louis VA – 08) Moran working the polls.

Arlnow is reporting that the “more conservative” areas of Arlington (North Arlington) are experiencing lower turnout that the “more liberal” areas, such as the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. Click here for the story.

Update 5:11 p.m. (Krystle VA – 08): I voted at the Marshall Precinct in Fairfax County. There was a long waiting line to vote. I spoke with a poll worker, who indicated that there has been a steady turnout. The most interesting observation was the number of those taking the Republican sample ballot over the Democratic one.

Update 5:10 p.m (J.R. Hoeft – VA-01).: From Fredericksburg to the southern part of the district, turnout is high. Krystal Ball is not even staffing half the districts in Fredericksburg. Apparently turnout in Stafford – heavy R – is through the roof.

Update at 4:57 p.m. (Josh St. Louis VA – 08) Picture of Murray voting:

Update 2:55 p.m. (Via the Daily Press – VA-01):

Dee Forrest, at the western precinct, described the turnout as “awesome” and said almost 1,000 voters had cast ballots before noon. The precinct has about 2,300 registered voters she said.

According to the Wittman campaign, these are some pretty insane numbers and Poquoson is probably the strongest R county in the first.

Update 2:15 p.m. (Photo by Forbes for Congress – VA-04):Forbes meeting with constituents

Update 2:09 p.m. (J.R. Hoeft – VA-01): Wittman campaign reports heavy turnout in James City County may exceed 09 elections. Solid R precincts.

Update 1:35 p.m. (Josh St. Louis – VA-08): Hearing that Jim Moran got booed when he went to vote today. Patrick Murray voted about an hour ago.

Update 12:45 p.m. (Photo Courtesy of Michaele White, Governor’s Photographer) Gee, I wonder who McDonnell, Cantor and wives are going to vote for?

Update 11:03 a.m. (J.R. Hoeft – VA-01): From Susan Stimpson on Facebook – Solid turnout at the polls today. Things are looking good for Wittman! Unfortunately the Democrat Committee has printed up flyers that have information that isn’t true about me and the Stafford Board of Supervisors regarding the Comprehensive Plan.

Update 10:56 a.m. (J.R. Hoeft – VA-01): SHENANIGANS ALERT! Dems have put a robo call out saying that Gail “Light Rail” Parker is the true Tea Party candidate… similar to what they did in 2nd and 5th with Golden and Clark. Apparently one of the local Tea Party chairman in the district is fuming about it.

Update 10:45 a.m. (Jason Kenney – VA-07): Voter 180 at the Hatcher Precinct in Henrico County. Eric Cantor signs dominated with a few from Rich Waugh including a few Waugh handbills tucked inside the polling place (those found the trash). No physical presence from anyone. Same scene at Hermitage High (SBE says polling place for precinct is Dumbarton Elementary – is it not). Both had signs from Sen. Walter Stosch describing the three ballot initiatives. Drive into city saw the sight of Floyd Bayne (running to the right of Cantor in VA-07) signs in the yard of a Bobby Scott supporter in the 3rd district. Trying to make sense of that one…

Update 10:35 a.m. (Alan Moore – VA-10): I used the electronic voting booth and had a last second change of heart on one of the amendment proposals. At the end it told me I could go back and change anything before submitting. Unfortunately it didn’t work. I had to have the staff cancel my vote and start over. Not a big deal but I wonder if people are having similar problems and deciding to just go with their first vote instead of changing it.

Update 10:15 a.m. (J.R. Hoeft – VA-04): Just voted for my Congressman, Rep. J. Randy Forbes at the Cooper’s Way Precinct in Chesapeake. Turnout is pretty reasonable at nearly 400 voters. Could break 50%, which would be amazing. I would wager most of that would be a protest vote against the administration. Anecdotally, there’s a lot of people – conservatives – who live in this area that are eager to vote not because they felt Rep. Forbes was in trouble, but because they are so mad at what’s happening in DC with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Leader Harry Reid, and Pres. Obama, that they want to send a strong message.

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Also, please feel free to leave comments with your observations on turnout, campaign shenanigans, and anything else that might cross your mind.

Send your photos and any information you personally don’t want to post to jr@bearingdrift.com.

Be sure to follow our live-blog of the election returns beginning at 7 p.m. You can also add to the live-blog by either following along in the Cover-It Live window or Tweeting using the hashtag “#vpod”.

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