the buzz log

Virginia holds a lucky 13 electoral votes and North Carolina 15. In the past seven days, the two have thrown everything plus the kitchen sink at Yahoo! Search to dig into details about presidential hopefuls John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D). In both states, one out of 10 queries checks out McCain, while Obama holds 86% of searches (the remaining 4% focuses on the campaign wives).

Below details what Virginians and North Carolinians have been tracking. Follow these links to find what other battleground residents have been contemplating in these waning electoral days:
• Nevada and Colorado
• Montana and New Hampshire
• New Mexico and Virginia
• Indiana and Missouri

Troop Activity: Locals are checking in for McCain pictures, bio, website, campaign, family, "Meet the Press" appearance, and—oh yes—his "Saturday Night Live" double cameo. The Republican did a skit alongside Tina Fey (masquerading once again as his VP pick), and wife Cindy popped up as well. Meanwhile, scrutiny remains on Obama's parents (especially his father), grandparents, daughters, and the straight tale of his great uncle Charlie Payne. Questions continue to plague him about his citizenship, but also spiking high are examinations into his tax plan (+420%). The desire for t-shirts are higher than "anti barack obama jokes," and more people are checking out "republicans for obama" than the group "obama sucks."
Final Offensives: The real Sarah palin did her own Saturday night, live in Henrico County before 8,000 supporters, while McCain spoke earlier in two Virginia spots. Obama pulled in 10,000 at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater two days earlier on Oct. 30. Campaign surrogates cruising the state include Mike Huckabee and three former Vietnam War POWS for McCain, while celebrities and Caroline Kennedy follow in Obama's wake.
Insider View: Salon profiled Palin's appeal as a true conservative. Meanwhile, News-Record reviewed the strategies of the 2008 campaign soundtrack. One song that crosses party lines: Brooks & Dunn's "Only in Ameica."

Troop Activity: Pollsters declare a dead heat between the two candidates. The Old North State poses less queries as their fellow battleground state, but basically the same questions. One deviation: North Carolinians are checking out "celebrities for mccain."
Final Offensives: Palin pulled another Saturday night, live, at the State Fairgrounds. Obama plans a Monday stop.
Insider View: The stories are coming fast, furious and colorful: Local officials aren't tickled by an anti-Obama casket at a polling place. North Carolinians have been talking in terms of black and white, and the racial gradations in between. Tennesseans lend their organizing efforts to its neighbor. The McClatchy Newspapers report that flawed ballot design may inadvertently disenfranchise state voters their presidential choice. Finally, critically acclaimed HBO series "The Wire" wrapped up this year, but the ensemble cast worked together to stump for Obama ... making pun-dits happy about the metaphoric possibilities.