Although the state of Virginia has voted Republican in the last 10 Presidential elections, the Democrats are hopeful that the tide has finally turned in their favour this time around.
Virginia is one of the key "battleground" states in this election and one which the Democrats have vigorously targeted in order to send Barack Obama to the White House. The Republicans, however, are fighting back and are doing everything possible to keep their hold on this traditionally Republican state.
The latest CNN/Time poll, which shows Mr Obama leading John McCain by 10 points in Virginia, is certainly encouraging for the Democrats. Andrew Cain, political editor of the Richmond Times Dispatch explains the importance being given to this state, with its 13 electoral college votes, by the two parties. "Bill Clinton was here on Sunday, John McCain and Sarah Palin were here on Monday. Barack Obama was there yesterday and John McCain returns today. This will be Mr Obama's seventh visit to the state since winning the nomination and Mr McCain's third."
"Barack Obama saw an opportunity in Virginia and responded. The Democrats won the election for Governor in 2001 and 2005 and a Senate race in 2006. He built a coalition of Democrats in the north, African-Americans in the south and young voters state-wide. He has opened 49 offices in Virginia.
"Mr McCain has only 50 people working for him in the state. Furthermore, Mr Obama has outspent Mr McCain three to one in Virginia," he said.
With 400,000 new voters registered in the state in the last couple of weeks, many of them African-Americans, the Democrats are hopeful that Virginia could finally switch sides.
"Twenty per cent of Virginians are African-Americans and if the turnout is high this could favour Senator Obama. However, whether all the white voters who say they will vote for Mr Obama in the polls do so is still to be seen," Mr Cain said.
However, Mr Cain explains that both candidates are personally popular in the state and the Republicans particularly like Sarah Palin, especially the evangelical Christians in the south eastern part of Virginia.
Levar Stoney, the executive director of the Virginia Democratic Party, is cautiously optimistic that Mr Obama will win in Virginia.
"We have offices throughout the state and we are campaigning in all areas including the rural parts. Since 2001 we have witnessed a number of victories for us in this state so the trend is there. We are challenging the Republicans on their turf and we have a good chance of winning although I believe the result in Virginia will be close."
He says the economy is the main issue and that Mr Obama is addressing the every-day needs and concerns of ordinary Americans.
"If Mr McCain loses in Virginia his chances of winning the White House are very slim because that means he will have to win in states like Pennsylvania, which is very doubtful indeed."
Mr Stoney says his party has "knocked on one million doors in Virginia and called two million people" to ask them to vote for Mr Obama.
The Republicans, however, are certainly not giving up. Gerry Scimeca, the Virginia Republican Party communications director, says there is always a late movement in the polls in the state. "McCain is running on his record and there is a lot of enthusiasm for the Republicans in Virginia. Sarah Palin is very popular here and I believe we can win."
He criticises Mr Obama for planning to raise taxes in these "difficult economic times" and says people have a right to know what type of values the Democratic candidate believes in.
"I believe the turnout will be high on both sides, Republicans and Democrats, and that voters are concerned about issues such as the economy and taxes."
Mr Scimeca does acknowledge, however, that should Mr McCain lose in Virginia, it would be a very bad result for the Republicans nationally.
Tucker Watkins, the Republican leader of Virginia's fifth congressional district, believes the Republicans have a good chance of keeping their hold on the state. "I have never witnessed so much enthusiasm by Republicans in a Presidential election. Sarah Palin is particularly popular among Republicans here and she recently drew a crowd of 35,000 people when she addressed a rally in the state. I believe that there will be a high turnout by Republicans and that we will win in Virginia," he said.