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ARLINGTON, Va. - Political analysts say the clock is just one of many factors to watch Tuesday night as the final votes in Virginia come in.

Both candidates need the support of two key demographics, and Democrat Creigh Deeds needs at least 60 percent of the votes in Northern Virginia to claim an upset against Republican Bob McDonnell.

The race between McDonnell and Deeds will test the new politics in Virginia. Last year, President Obama became the first Democrat to carry the state in a presidential election. But McDonnell's strong lead could reverse the trend.

After eight years of Democratic rule in Richmond, the Republican Party is ready for a change and so are some Virginia voters. "I think we need to go in a different direction and I'm excited about what he can do," said Sarah Prencipe, a voter.

For Prencipe, the right candidate is McDonnell. And judging by the latest poll numbers, she's not alone.

"In terms of all the momentum, everything is certainly on Bob McDonnell's side," said Andy Barr of Politico.

Barr says both campaigns worked hard this election to win over women voters and they're one group to watch closely. "They were who swung when Deeds got close enough to within four in late September in that Washington Post poll," he said. "They're the ones the Deeds campaign has been targeting since that story on his thesis broke."

McDonnell's 1989 thesis, which took a social conservative position on a woman's role in the workplace, was enough for voter Linda Hohlweg to cast a ballot for Deeds.

"I didn't like his stand on women's rights and on different social issues," she said.

Political insiders will also be monitoring the African-American turnout after a massive registration effort during Obama's campaign.

"All indications are that a lot of those new voters that Obama registered last year aren't going to show up and aren't going to be there to help Democrat Creigh Deeds," said Barr.

But one voter says he went with the Democrat.

"He got the endorsement from the Washington Post," said Kaparah Simmons, a voter. "I feel that he's a strong candidate and I feel that it's also representation of a good job of what Barack Obama (web | news | bio) is doing throughout the country."

For Deeds, Northern Virginia may be the key to clench a victory.

"Democrats really need to hit that 60-percent mark," said Barr. "That's something that Democrats in past races have been able to do."

And some say as long as the AP holds off from calling a winner, it would also work in Deeds' favor.

Barr says the public should also watch for a possible GOP sweep since the governor's race isn't the only one on the ballot this year. Republicans running for lieutenant governor and attorney general are both leading in the polls.

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