He did indeed and he spoke quite eloquently at the event. Thank you so much Jim!

Rep. Jim Moran, though not at all in danger of losing re-election, is wise to endorse Sen. Obama. Hopefully, many of his colleagues will follow his example.  You see, with Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, many Democratic Congress people and Democratic governors in "red" states, will be in a very good position to win re-election.  Sen. Obama attracts both independents and Republicans.  He has coattails...

Considering Jim's less than sterling record with independents, this endorsement probably helps Jim more than Obama. On a side note, Delegate Bud Phillips endorsed Senator Clinton today. Also a wise move from a Democrat in no danger of losing re-election, with one difference... Bud knows what it takes to win in conservative areas.

Which is why I'm confused.  Red State Democrats from across the country (and in Virginia, too) have made in quite clear that Obama is the man for the job.

You really think "President Hillary" is going to go over well in Red Virginia?

the selection of John McCain as the Republican nominee has already hurt those chances. Voters in the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th district will favor Senator McCain...

Governor Kaine doesn't win in rural Virginia. He lost six of the state's eleven congressional districts (1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th) and only won the 5th thanks to a heavy margin from the liberal enclave of Albemarle County.

Congressman Boucher's endorsement on the other hand puzzled the h*ll out of most Democrats in the 9th, though I will concede he (unlike Gov. Kaine) wins in the "Red Virginia" you speak of.

A 42-point margin to be exact. Not sure where you got your numbers from.

Overall, Kaine won 6 of 11 CD's (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 11th).  He lost the 1st by 4 points, the 4th by 1 point, the 6th by 9 points, the 7th by 5 points, and the 9th by 12 points.  Overall, Kaine won Virginia by a 52%-46% margin.  I see no reason why Barack Obama can't win Virginia as well, although I'm sure it will be closer than Kaine's 6-point win over Jerry Kilgore.

using 2005 as a guide, I actually think Byrne would be a better gauge of how either Obama or Clinton would do, as Kaine ran in the mold of moderate Warner Democrat.

Byrne lost the 1st by 13 points, the 2nd by 9 points, the 4th by 8 points, the 5th by 6 points, the 7th by 18 points, the 9th by 14 points and the 10th by just 2 points.

That wasn't simply a matter of turnout.

The argument of why Obama might fare better in Virginia than Clinton seems to me to be that he may pull more voters to the polls in the 3rd, 8th and 11th, not because he will necessarily do better in the other districts.

That said, I readily admit I'm kind of new at this sort of analysis. Lowell has a much better handle on the state than I do.

I've been up a while. Shouldn'thave included the 8th. My bad.

enthusiastic support from social conservatives.  Also, see this article for what could very well happen with Republicans this fall if Obama's the Democratic nominee: "In Virginia, a Longtime Republican Votes for Change."