It seems cowardly not to make a prediction as to how the election will turn out tomorrow. (Or whenever it turns out.) Perhaps I will read this in 36 hours’ time and cringe.
In the presidential race, I forecast a Kerry victory by 3%. I think that Kerry’s victory will be clear on Tuesday night, unlike in 2000. I expect very little litigation, if any.
In the 9th District, I expect that Kevin Triplett (R) will get 39% of the vote, losing to incumbent Rick Boucher (D). In the 5th District, I likewise expect that Al Weed (D) will get 39% of the vote, losing to incumbent Virgil Goode (R). Neither of these races are difficult to call — it’s only the percentage that’s up in the air.
Both Virginia constitutional amendments will pass easily, as they always do and, in this case, as they should.
After an exam Tuesday morning, I’m hitting the road and heading up to Charlottesville, where I’ll be working the polls in Albemarle County on behalf of Kerry and Weed, and then it’s back to Blacksburg on Wednesday. Kerry may win, but I’ll need to put a little elbow grease into it — we’ll all need to put a little elbow grease into it — if it’s going to be by 3%.