MARTINSVILLE -- Democrat Tom Perriello declared victory this afternoon in the roller coaster 5th District race for Congress after a canvas of vote gave him a 749-vote edge over U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Rocky Mount.

"After an incredibly exhausting campaign, and an incredibly exhaustive canvas, we can now say the outcome is certain -- we will win this race," Perriello said during a news conference at his Martinsville campaign headquarters.

Flanked by his parents and campaign staff, Perriello said he's ready to begin the "double shift" he promised if elected. Perriello said he respects Goode's service to the district, and will respect the decisions Goode decides to make in the coming days over the vote tally.

Goode, who has been in public office since 1973, said earlier today at his own news conference in Rocky Mount  that he has no immediate plans to concede the race, and will wait until the state Board of Elections certifies the vote on Nov. 24 before deciding whether to ask for a recount.  Goode also said a Perriello victory declaration would be premature.

But Perriello, of Albemarle County, said he will start making plans to go to Washington and has enlistd fomer 5th District Congressman L.F. Payne to aid in the transition. Interestingly, it was Goode, who was then a Democrat, who succeeded Payne in Congress after Payne retired.

Perriello thanked all his volunteers and supporters this afternoon, some of whom were crying.

Goode will likely be able to ask for a recount if he wants to, which would be his option under Virginia election law -- unless the current margin changes dramatically. Right now, Perriello holds a 749-vote lead over the Republican Goode, according to the state Board of Elections latest count this afternoon based on the canvasses of registrars in the district. Perriello held a 648 vote lead earlier today, but the lead was pushed up another 101 votes, mainly due to a vote change made in Albemarle County, where Perriello lives.

Goode said, too, that he's hoping a "Charlottesville miracle" will happen in the vote count for him -- a reference to a number of votes Perriello picked up in Charlottesville yesterday during a canvas of the votes there.

Goode's campaign also issued this statement:

"With the vote counting process almost complete, it has become clear that there have been a number of reporting irregularities -- including the misplacement of paper ballets (sic) and tape records from electronic machines and miscalculations in vote tallies. In fact, almost 20% of all the voting precincts in the district had reporting errors.

While current unofficial tallies have me trailing my opponent, these irregularities have cast doubt on the reported totals. It is essential that we get to the bottom of these problems and insist on a thorough and proper vote counting process. We will continue to fight to make sure that every single legitimate vote in the 5th District is accurately counted and reported."