MECHANICSVILLE, Va.-Of all the swing states this election, there are few more coveted by Democrats then this former capital of the Confederacy, where an influx of Hispanics and population growth in Northern Virginia has turned this formerly red state, if not blue, then at least, purple.
So it was no surprise that President Obama chose Norfolk as the final stop in the road to Charlotte-and the Democratic Convention-tour that he has been on over the past four days. Seeming intent on not heading to North Carolina without first doing all he could to shore up his chances in Virginia, Mr. Obama delivered a rousing speech to 11,600 people at Norfolk State University characterizing his G.O.P. opponents as repres entative of failed policies of the past.
At times shouting into the microphone, Mr. Obama began sentence after sentence with the word “Virginia.â€
“So, Virginia-Norfolk-on issue after issue, Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan-they want to take us backwards,†the president said. Whenever his audience booed, he fell back on the line he has taken to using of late on the campaign trail. “Don't boo! Vote!â€
Democratic officials initially chose Charlotte as the site of this year's convention in part because of the hope that Mr. Obama would repeat in 2012 his unlikely win of the Tar Heel state in 2008. But now-even though the Obama camp has still managed to keep North Carolina somewhat still in play this year, campaign operatives privately acknowledge that it will be a tall order for Mr. Obama to repeat in North Carolina in 2012 what he did in 2008.
But Virginia is a whole different story. A New York Times/CBS News/Q uinnipiac poll last month showed Mr. Obama up by four points in Virginia. But more recent polls have shown the race tightening.
The state has only 13 electoral votes, but pathways to Mr. Obama's re-election get much steeper if the commonwealth is taken out of the blue column. With Virginia, Mr. Obama can lose Ohio and still win re-election. With Virginia, he can lose Florida and still win re-election. With Virginia, he can even lose both of those once must-have states-and he can still win re-election. Conversely, barring a major shift, it is very difficult to see how Mitt Romney can win the White House if he does not win Virginia; he would have to pick up Democratic-leaning states like Michigan or Pennsylvania.
“Virginia, it depends on you,†Mr. Obama said. He reminded the mostly college-age audience-a key constituency for the president-that Mr. Romney once suggested that one way to afford college was for students to go to their parents for loans.
The a udience, of course, booed.
“Don't Boo! Vote!†the president roared back.
With the GOP edge in spending becoming more increased each week, the Obama camp has been seeking to turn that edge into another cudgel to use against Republicans on the trail. Mr. Obama did so again on Tuesday.
“Over these next 63 days, you will see more ads, more negative ads, more insults and distractions and baloney than you've ever seen,†Mr. Obama told the crowd. “And they'll be supported by $10 million checks from wealthy donors who like things just the way they are.â€
The president tried to tee up Tuesday night's convention events, with First Lady Michelle Obama holding a prime slot on the stage.
“I know that whatever I say here today, it's going to be at best a distant second to the speech you will hear tonight from the star of the Obama familyâ€"Michelle Obama,†Mr. Obama said.
The president, who is rarely known for showing much by way of emoti on, even went so far as to suggest that he would become so moved when Mrs. Obama spoke that he'd cry.
“I'll be at home and I will watch it with the girls and I will try not to let them see their daddy cry,†he said.
