Mike Huckabee had about 25% support in Virginia on Thursday and Friday of last week. In the latest poll taken on Saturday and Sunday his support move up to 37%. If that trend continues through tomorrow then Virginia could be very close race on the Republican side.

Virginia is similar to Michigan in that you do not choose a party when you register but rather when you vote in a primary you choose a ballot from one party or the other. The question is will the independents vote for the Democrat ballot in order to vote for Obama, especially since the race is already over on the Republican side. Tuesday’s results should be interesting.

Virginia is winner take all with 63 delegates.

It’s becoming quite clear where the 2008 Presidential Election is going at this time. Now that the GOP has all but made it official that the nominee will be Senator John McCain, I’m really going to go out on the proverbial limb and predict that the next President will be Barak Obama.

Now before you go criticizing me for trying to start a rainstorm on the McCain parade, let me ask you if you’ve been watching the Obama rallies? There is more excitement, inspiration, motivation, energy and overall resolve on behalf of the Democrats to elect someone completely new and outside the Potomac beltway. The first term-senator from Illinois represents this not just to the Dems but to those wanting something other than another 4-8 years of Clinton. (Americans are tired of the 20 years of Bush-Clinton-Bush.)

That’s not to say that Clinton doesn’t hold the admiration of longtime Dems. I predicted some time ago that she’ll be on the ticket just not as President. Hillary is straining to make campaign budget comittments and major donors are pulling out as they see the writing on the wall but they’ll keep her in the game because they believe she deserves some proximity to the Executive branch. But ultimately, they want a new beginning and the only way they can get there is by electing someone who represents new energy and charisma.

Just like in 1996, the head of the Republican ticket is settled and the perception is not just that the GOP is nominating someone who knows the ropes – a real insider – but someone who has fractured and de-energized the party. This will be the fatal flaw for Senator McCain as someone from the past meets someone for the future. Its a hard sale for the GOP to contrast the “wise elder” against the energy of a Kennedy’esque candidate like Obama. John McCain has found himself in the most critical battle of his political life and many will wonder if he can endure. I don’t think he can and the polls reflect that.

As the economy continues to decline, be prepared to revisit shades of the ’92 slogan, “It’s the economy stupid” as Americans continue to lose hope that anyone representing the past can really solve their troubled times. Much of Mike Huckabee’s message of economic populism has hit home with these voters – a preclude to times ahead? Economic stimulus rebate checks will hit soon but it won’t be enough to make a difference and many voters will see it as a buy-off by a Congress and President approaching single-digit approval ratings.

This fall, Americans will choose between a party divider and a party uniter, old blood vs new blood, aged vs. energy, cynicism vs. inspiration. Republicans have all but made their choice official while Democrats close in on combining their ticket. Yes, I’ll be voting for the GOP nominee like many of you but I’m afraid our vote won’t be enough to overcome the momentum building among people who believe this is their time especially during times like these.