"Democrat Tom Perriello has been certified as the winner in his race against six-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount.

Perriello, a national security consultant and Ivy resident, received an unofficial vote tally of 158,712 to 157,967 - a margin of 745 votes.

Perriello has already declared victory in the race. He attended freshman orientation for new congressmen last week.

In a statement, Perriello’s communications director said: “The citizens of the fifth district have spoken, every vote has been counted and certified, and they have elected Tom Perriello to be their new representative in Washington to bring the change and economic recovery they need.”

Goode has the right to request a taxpayer-funded recount, as Perriello’s margin of victory was less than 0.5 percent. Goode did not immediately return a call for comment and has not yet issued a statement today.

Recounts in Virginia rarely shift vote totals by many votes, as election officials go through and verify precinct-by-precinct results in the days following Election Day." (Brian McNeill, The Daily Progress, November 24, 2008)