Obama going to Virginia

Campaigning for the first time with Senator Jim Webb.

Here's the money quote:

Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, will kick off his general election campaign Thursday with stops in Virginia, signaling that he thinks he can turn the once solidly red state into a Democratic pickup come November.

The day will culminate with an evening rally in northern Virginia, where Sen. Jim Webb, often mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate, will make his first campaign appearance with Obama.

I live in North Carolina and firmly believe we can turn both states blue with Jim Webb in the VP slot. I like the guy. I like his toughness and candor. I like his military background and his pragmatic approach to policy-making. But most of all I like the way he campaigns and his unique appeal to that area of the country where Obama is weakest in the Appalachians.

Webb speaks their language and can relate to them. Remember when one of Webb's aides accidentally brought his gun into Capitol Hill? I had a friend from Virginia who joked that that actually helped Webb out. And he wasn't kidding.

Even without Jim Webb though, I think Obama has an excellent chance to win both states. His support there is extremely energized, and it's this volunteer activity translated into voter registration drives and organizing that will catapult him past McCain.