Speaking at James Madison University in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told the people who packed into an overflow room that the 2008 election represents “a clear choice between the past and the future.” There were about 8,000 people at the soccer field at James Madison, but there wasn’t room for them at the indoor venue where there were 12,000 more people, mainly students too excited to sit.

Obama made his way into the traditionally Republican territory, noting that the last Democrat to travel to Harrisonburg was Stephen Douglas in his race against Abraham Lincoln. Obama said that his present visit is a testimony to the state.

He said: “It’s a testimony to the path our country has traveled that the last time a Democrat was here was Stephen Douglas and the next presidential candidate is Barack Obama. That’s a testimony to Virginia and a testimony to this country.”

Stressing on the role of Virginia state on the outcome of the election, Obama said that there are a lot of important decisions to be made and no state is more important in this election than the “great state of Virginia.” He did not mince words in telling the crowd that winning Virginia is critical to his success in the election.

According to the latest poll by the Washington Post, Obama is running ahead in the former GOP stronghold – leading his rival McCain, 54% to 44%.

After the rally at James Madison, Obama went on to host another rally in Norfolk.