If Democrats can take six additional seats in the House, they will have a one-seat majority in the next term, which will include the excrutiatingly important redistricting of the state following the decennial census. Here's one race to watch, in the attempt to gain six additional House seats.

Seward Anderson who is running in Danville (14th District) vs. Republican incumbent Danny W Marshall, III.

From GoDanRiver.com, September 7, 2009:

Anderson, 62, said Danville needs a new voice in Richmond and said he is a hard worker and an effective communicator. He served on Danville City Council from 1982 to 1996, including 10 years as mayor, and is a financial advisor at Wachovia Securities. In 2002, Anderson ran for another term on City Council but lost.

Marshall, 57, has served in the House of Delegates since 2001, representing Danville, southern Pittsylvania County and eastern Henry County. He served on City Council for about 18 months before running for the House when Whitt Clement resigned his seat to vie for attorney general.

Anderson has just a bit more than half the war chest of Marshall, going into the home stretch, and donations in the critical July-August period were just over a third of his opponent's. Hmmm.

Anderson (as of August 31)

Total raised for this race $ 102,600
Raised in July & August $ 30,300
On Hand for Final Push $ 42,900

Major contributors include Democratic Party - Virginia House Caucus (Richmond) and Deborah J Barker of Daphne, AL

Marshall

Total raised for this race $ 174,300
Raised in July & August $ 87,200
On Hand for Final Push $ 76,700

Major contributors: Majority Whip PAC, Va Assn of Realtors

(Dave Sagarin, September 18, 2009)