Contributors to Bearing Drift will use this thread to update you on what we’re hearing regarding the 5th Congressional District campaign in Virginia between incumbent Democrat Tom Perriello and Republican Robert Hurt.
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 5:35 p.m. (Jason Johnson): In at least two precincts in Bedford County (Smith Mountain Lake area) turnout is almost exceeding turnout during last year’s gubernatorial election.
WDBJ-7 in Roanoke is reporting a turnout rate of 38 percent in Danville–far lower than in 2008.
Update 5:20 p.m. (J.R. Hoeft): Getting reports from statewide staff that southern portion of the district and Pittsylvania County have high turnouts; Charlottesville is at extremely low turnout; and, Albemarle is average turnout (32-35%) – but really good in GOP precincts in the district.
Update 3:15 p.m. (Jason Johnson): FWIW: My precinct is now approaching 50 percent turnout…and the after-work voters won’t arrive for another three hours. Unlike usual off-year elections, there has been no mid-day lull; traffic has been steady all day long. At the current rate, we fully expect to exceed 50 percent.
Elsewhere in Bedford County, I’m hearing reports from my precinct captains of long lines and ebullient voters in the county’s most Republican precincts. The one name no voter has mentioned today: Jeff Clark. Perriello and the DCCC notwithstanding, this IS a two-man race in the 5th’s southwestern corner.
Update 1:10 p.m. (Jason Johnson): Perriello changing tactics. He’s pulling observers in the district to phone bank in order to generate turnout.
Update 10:30 a.m. (Jason Johnson): I was at my precinct in southern Bedford County to set up the Republican tent at 5:30 and it was cold! There was a line (about four or five) by 6 a.m. Since then, turnout has been steady, with no lulls…perhaps slightly higher than an average midterm election. (In fact, my unit chair reports high turnout across Bedford County.) This is a heavily Republican precinct (we usually vote 68-75 percent Republican), but the voters seem even more enthusiastic than normal. By 9:15, I was voter 255. The Democrat volunteer, who is a good friend of mine, told me she isn’t holding out much hope that TP can pull it off.
I heard Tucker Watkins had trouble with his machine this morning in Charlotte County (I think that’s where he lives)–the default setting was, surprise, Perriello. Election officials were still waiting for it to be fixed at 7:30. Election Day Observers (and we have them in every precinct in the district!) across the 5th have been warned to be on high alert.
Update 6 a.m. (J.R. Hoeft): Robert Hurt voted in Chatham.
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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.
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