RICHMOND, Va. – "Republican John McCain's presidential campaign sued the Virginia election board Monday, claiming absentee ballots weren't mailed on time to military members serving overseas.

"The complaint asks the U.S. District Court in Richmond to order the state to count absentee ballots postmarked by Tuesday and received by Nov. 14. It contends that thousands of troops' ballots — many of which would go to McCain — will not be counted.

"The deadline for ballots to be received is 7 p.m. Election Day, which is Tuesday."

Playing the only card he seemingly has, McCain starts early to get the election into the court system. With an endless supply of very experienced attorneys and volunteers with a history of preventing vote counts worthy of Hugo Chavez, there is Republican precedent for this maneuver.

Arf