Blacksburg, VA - There are a lot of eyes on nine battleground states right now, but it turns out, certain counties in those states may play just as big a role.
The Associated Press cited 106 counties and cities where swing voting has taken place over the past two presidential elections including nine counties and nine cities in the Commonwealth that carry this distinction.
Four years ago, the Obama camp was able to rally more than 8,000 last minute student voters that ultimately would push Montgomery County into the blue and help deliver Virginia to the Democrats for the first time in decades.
"Just about 75% of the students that registered showed up and as a result, they played a big part in making the decision here in Montgomery County," said Randall Wertz, Montgomery County's Registrar.
Montgomery County was joined by eight other counties and nine cities across the Commonwealth that went to Bush in '04 only to flip over to Obama in 2008.
It's these localities that once again have all eyes upon them as another presidential race tightens up with Virginia in play.
"The uncertainty in how the county might vote - and it's a fairly large county with over 100,000 people living here it's much bigger than the counties farther south from here so if this county starts to head towards Democrats that could really make a difference," said Political Scientist Dr. Craig Brians of Virginia Tech.
In 2004 when President Bush won the county, voter turnout and registration was low as interest in voting dropped.
That was not the case in '08 and isn't the case in 2012 as Montgomery County has tallied more than 7,400 newly registered voters since August 1.
90% of them are Hokie students and faculty that, if they vote, will likely be the deciding factor once again.
"It's amazing how much of an affect they can have if they really want to wield their power, or whatever, from the campus," said Wertz.
In 2008, President Obama won Montgomery County by just 2,000 votes as the Tech vote did make the difference.
