Maybe it's because the Beltway passes through it, or because it's known as the "Mother of Presidents," or just because it doesn't like getting left out of big events. Whatever the reason, Virginia is factoring large in this year's elections.

The marquee races look to be leaning towards the Democrats. At the top of the ticket, Barack Obama is holding on to a seven-point lead and poised to pull off an upset in this traditionally red state in which guns outnumber drive-through espresso stands by nearly two to one. And in the Senate race, Democrat Mark Warner is so far ahead in the polls that his opponent Jim Gilmore has stopped campaigning in order to spend more time preparing for his next presidential bid.

The real excitement in the Old Dominion is in the state's 5th Congressional District, where incumbent Republican Virgil Goode has seen his seat go from safe to highly threatened in just a matter of days. Starting last week, the following has been revealed to damage the Republican in this socially conservative district:

* The names of Goode and his wife were listed in the closing credits of the 2003 gay-themed art house film “Eden’s Curve.”

* Goode's long-time press secretary appeared in the film, which features graphic gay sex and drug use.

* The fax number for Goode's Congressional office was listed as a press contact for the "Eden's Curve" in a film festival brochure.

So for those of you wondering how to spend your time when the election is over, you've now got a new addition for your Netflix queue!