Nov. 6-The Martinsville Bulletin today has called the race between Del Ward Armstrong and Del. Charles Poindexter, and the race between, Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, Sen. Bill Stanley toss-ups.

Source: www.martinsville bulletin.com Area races called toss-ups Analyst: Financial supporters still 'see those seats in play' Sunday, November 6, 2011 By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer With Tuesday’s election looming, battles for the 9th District in the House of Delegates and the 20th Senatorial District are considered toss-ups by two political observers in the state. “The fact that money continues to come in to both races seems to suggest that both sides still see those seats as up for grabs,� said Tom Morris, political correspondent and president of the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges. “I follow the money� and on Friday, he said, financial supporters still “see those seats in play.� While it is not “unusual following redistricting to have incumbents squaring off against each other, at the same time, it is not typical to have two� incumbents in two races facing each other, he said. Dels. Ward Armstrong, D-Bassett, and Charles Poindexter, R-Glade Hill, are running for the 9th District House of Delegates seat. State Sens. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Ridgeway, and Bill Stanley, R-Glade Hill, as well as Jeff Evans, an independent from Fieldale, are running for the 20th Senate District seat. Morris declined to predict the outcomes of Tuesday’s election. He said there are several contested races around the state, particularly in northern Virginia, “where Democrats usually sweep the table� but they are close this year. That is a reminder “that the Democrats got to redraw the Senate district seats and the Republicans� drew the House districts, he said. Still, “as effective as redistricting is, there are limitations on what either party can do� to ensure their party wins, and “neither (race) is a foregone conclusion,� Morris added. “There is no question� that “Democrats picked up control of the Senate in 2007, aided a little bit by ... negative vibes coming out of national politics� due to dissatisfaction with then-President George Bush and the Republican Party, he said. “Now the wind is blowing in a different direction� with President Barack Obama, he said. The races for the 9th and the 20th “are still primarily local races, but in close races whatever winds are blowing� at the national level “can have an effect,� he said. Republicans control of the House, and “it will certainly change the dynamic� if they take control of the Senate, Morris said. The Republicans need to gain two Senate seats to split the body between the two parties; tie votes would be decided by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican. It also would be only the second time in about 100 years that Republicans controlled both houses under a Republican governor, Morris said. The last time was a two-year stint during Gov. Jim Gilmore’s administration, he said. “We have had some form of divided government since then,� he said. One thing is certain, Morris said. “Virginia is watching those two races, along with a few others around the state,� he said, referring to the 9th and 20th district races. Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, predicted Thursday that Republicans will keep control the House. “It’s just a matter of how big of a majority it is,� he said. “From what I can tell,� the battle between Poindexter and Armstrong “is sort of the number one race� among delegates in the state, Kondik said. It is such a high profile race because Armstrong, the minority leader, “is trying to hold on. He may end up being a candidate for state office� in the future, “but it would be a feather in his cap to win in a difficult election year,� Kondik added. Democrats in the Senate also are under fire, and “one of the real races� targeted is the battle between Stanley and Reynolds, he said. Reynolds is one of three Democrats who are “particularly vulnerable incumbents,� along with Phil Puckett and Ed Houck, Kondik said. The Republican’s effort to nationalize the races will hurt Reynolds, Kondik added. The GOP has tried to align Armstrong and Reynolds with Obama and national politics. “The outcome of the District 9 race for the House doesn’t matter a whole lot as to the overall control� of the House, “but the Reynolds/Stanley race matters very much as to whether the Democrats will be able to keep it (the Senate) or the Republicans will be able to take it,� Kondik said. “If Democrats can hold the Reynolds’ seat, I think it would be very beneficial to them,� he said. But on Thursday, Kondik said “I feel like it is a toss up. A lot of money is still being spent on both sides.�