The author cites a swing in VA between ‘08 and ‘09. I have a theory about that that may or may not be tin foil.
ACORN and the Obama campaign did very aggressive recruiting on college campuses in VA in ‘08. I contend they were able to persuade students at those VA colleges whose homes are in NY/NJ or anywhere in New England to switch their registration(s) to VA. Their votes wouldn’t have mattered for squat in MA, but would make a difference in VA .. and DID.
To this day, I contend Obama did NOT carry VA in ‘08 among true VA residents and voters. Alas, those states North of here (from which I moved to VA decades ago myself), send too damned many of their kids to our colleges. And those kids were all too willing to register and vote here to get Obama to turn VA blue.
McCain was really that bad!
;-)