VCU Commonwealth Poll finds Obama leads McCain among Va. voters
Likely Virginia voters prefer Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama over Republican nominee Sen. John McCain by an 11-point margin, according to a new statewide survey released today by VCU. The survey also finds Mark Warner, the Democratic candidate for U.
GOP ticket plans Saturday visits to Va.
Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin plan one more stab at keeping Virginia voting Republican for the 11th presidential race in a row.
With Democrat Barack Obama holding a slight lead in the latest Virginia polling, McCain is planning two stops on Saturday.
3 free-speech groups to challenge Va. apparel rule
Three free-speech groups say they will file a lawsuit challenging Virginia’s policy prohibiting voters from wearing T-shirts or other apparel with political messages at polling places.
However, they don’t plan to sue until after Election Day. Kent Willis, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Virginia, said Wednesday that they want to see how the State Board of Elections policy is implemented before taking the matter to court.
Sports briefs
FIELD HOCKEY
The Rams fell to 0-6 in the CAA, 4-12 overall and their losing streak is now 11 after losses to William and Mary and Old Dominion this past weekend. The Tribe scored two second-half goals to send VCU home with a 2-0 loss on Friday, while the Monarchs blanked the Rams 4-0.
Rams blank JMU 3-0
The VCU volleyball team (6-2 CAA, 14-8) came into Saturday night looking to move up the CAA standings. James Madison (4-5, 11-15) came to town looking to pull an upset and move up the rankings as well. It was the Rams that ended up victorious with a 3-0 victory over the Dukes Saturday night at the Siegel Center.
The Rome report
Everyone who watches or participates in sports knows that you shouldn’t count wins on the schedule before the games are played.
Well, I am about to do just that. With a 13-6 win over Ohio State Saturday night, Penn State locked up a berth in the national championship game.
This week
CROSS COUNTRY
Sat., Nov. 1, @ CAA Championships, Manassas, TBA
FIELD HOCKEY
Thu., Oct. 30, @ Maryland, College Park, Md., 7 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 2, vs. Northeastern, Cary Street Field, 1 p.m.
MEN’S SOCCER
Wed., Oct. 29, vs. Old Dominion, Sports Backers Stadium, 7 p.
Loss could cost Rams tourney berth
VCU lost its fourth-straight game, 3-0, against Northeastern this past Sunday on senior day at Sports Backers Stadium. The loss is costly because it knocked the Rams out of sixth place in the CAA. The top six teams make it to the CAA Tournament. With the loss to Northeastern, the Rams must beat James Madison on Thursday night and need Northeastern to lose to Hofstra, in order to advance to the conference tournament.
Voice major performs at local Obama rally
If some consider Sen. Barack Obama America’s voice for change, then last week, vocal performance major Chase Peak was the harbinger for that voice.
“I got a phone call from a (voice) professor in the music department. He said, ‘Would you like to sing the national anthem at the Obama rally?’ ” Peak said.
Tony Malaby’s dark direction for jazz
Saxophonist Tony Malaby – known for his ominously playful composition style – has teamed up with New York contemporary drummer John Hollenbeck and avant-garde cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm to create “Warblepeck,” an album that is as experimental as it is fun.
Billed as the Tony Malaby Cello Trio, the group’s virtuosity creeps up behind the obvious ingenuity and body slams you with sonic indulgence.