Obama campaign manager predicts victory in Virginia

Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, is clearing a "pathway for victory" in battleground states, including Virginia, his campaign manager said yesterday.

"One of the most significant moments in this elec tion is that both Virginia and Colorado have strengthened," David Plouffe said in a conference call with reporters from across the country.

Virginia, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico and Ohio were carried by President Bush, a Republican, in 2004. But the states are in play now because of economic decline, opposition to the Iraq war, and demographic change.

"We believe we have a pathway to victory in many of them," said Plouffe, adding, "There are an enormous number states where we have a good opportunity to flip them."

However, the latest Richmond Times-Dispatch Poll suggests that Virginia, which last backed a Democrat for president in 1964, is too close to call.

McCain is fighting hard to hold Virginia, where - as in several other states - his surrogates are raising concerns that the restoration of voting rights for felons will give a boost to Obama.

Jerry W. Kilgore, a former attorney general and defeated GOP candidate for governor in 2005, said some of the felons had committed crimes since winning back their rights.

Asked in a conference call with reporters whether the issue of felons' voting rights is a veiled appeal to the racial fears of whites, Kilgore said: "Absolutely not. I never looked at the race of the individuals when I was restoring their rights."

As attorney general, Kilgore was responsible for reviewing applications for renewal of voting rights. The decision to reinstate them, however, ultimately falls to the governor.

Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or .