Tom Perriello went to sleep last night ahead of U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Rocky Mount, by less than 1,000 votes. He woke up this morning trailing behind the six-term incumbent by about 300 votes.

According the state board of elections Web site, the computer system used to tabulate the votes "went down at midnight and changed totals" in eight precincts in Danville.

The difference between the original and changed totals vary, with some differing by around 400 votes.

The state board of elections could not be reached for comment this morning.

All but one precinct in Lunenburg County has been reported and the close vote totals will allow Perriello, the Democratic challenger of Albemarle County, to request a recount.

In Virginia, there are no automatic recounts, and only the presumptive losing candidate can ask for a recount and only in cases where the difference between the apparent winner and loser is not more than 1 percent of the total votes cast for the two candidates.

There is no word yet, if Perriello will request a recount.

He is scheduled to visit his campaign offices around the district to thank volunteers today.

Perriello will begin at his Charlottesville campaign office at 11 a.m. and then continue on to the Bedford County office at 1:30 p.m. His last stop will be to the Danville office at 4 p.m.

The most competitive political race in the region was too close to call Tuesday night.

Earlier in the evening about 9:30, The Associated Press called the race for Goode -- but the AP "uncalled" it shortly before 11 p.m.

CNN called the race for Perriello.

But neither candidate would declare victory or concede.

"I'm confident," said Perriello, a security analyst whose campaign surged late with a blitz of television ads and a tour around the district. "This has been an incredible turnaround. I'm excited to be ahead."

But he added: "We need to let the process play out."

While he said he had an "inkling of an idea" that the race would be so close, Perriello added he is not sure what will happen next or the timeline to determine the winner.

It could take a while before a winner is declared. The majority of the absentee votes yet to be reported were in precincts in which Goode beat Perriello on Tuesday.

There were still absentee votes out in Bedford and Lunenburg counties. Goode appeared to win in Campbell and Lunenburg counties with majorities.

If the absentee ballots mirror the other votes in those jurisdictions, it still appears possible for Goode to edge Perriello by a handful of votes.

Those absentees had not been counted as of 11:40 p.m. And no matter what the absentees show, the race will likely be within the margin for a recount.

In Virginia, there are no automatic recounts, and only the presumptive losing candidate can ask for a recount and only in cases where the difference between the apparent winner and loser is not more than 1 percent of the total votes cast for the two candidates.

Goode, who has held state or federal elected office since 1973, arrived in Moneta after 10 p.m. and made a short speech.

"Thanks to all that have worked so hard in this campaign," he said. "It is a very close race. The AP called it for us. MSNBC called it for us -- and we don't know what the exact figures will be when all the precincts and absentee ballots are counted. We are optimistic, and we will just have to wait and see."

The 100 people waiting for Goode at the Smith Mountain Lake Republican headquarters did not sit on pins and needles. Instead they mingled, glasses of wine in hand, and watched the results come in on a mounted flat-screen TV.

When the AP declared Goode the winner, the celebrating began. Within half an hour, the mood settled a bit as the numbers on the state board of election's Web site continued to show Perriello in the lead.

DeeDee Bondurant, president of the Smith Mountain Lake Republican Women's Club, said, "The point is it is real close. Virgil, as conservative as he is, isn't going to stand up and say one way or another. It is touch and go right now."

Democratic supporters gathered at the Gravity Lounge, across the street from Goode's congressional office in Charlottesville, waiting for results and an appearance from Perriello.

"We're very confident, but we're not making any comment one way or the other," said Jessica Barba, communications director for the Perriello campaign in a phone call with The Roanoke Times.

State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, who lost a close race of his own for attorney general, was rooting for Perriello. But Deeds said if Goode somehow pulls out a win, the race should serve as a lesson to him.

"People of the district expect him to work with others to accomplish things for us," he said. "He has to be able to govern, not just get elected."

Goode needs to do more then be a "demagogue and absolutist." Deeds said.

The nail-biting end to the race Tuesday night was another chapter in the testy event.

Perriello's chances were slim when the race began. After trekking thousands of miles across the district and shaking just as many hands and making as many stump speeches, the newcomer was able to catch up with Goode in numerous polls.

For Goode, the journey to reclaim his seat for the sixth time has been his roughest.

The final days of the race included an attack ad against Perriello that had to be pulled from the air, accusations that Goode used his public office to promote an erotic film -- charges Goode flatly denies -- and a televised and radio-broadcast debate that Goode agreed to on the eve of the election.

Goode, in turn, has painted Perriello as a liberal who was distorting the incumbent's record.

Goode remained strong in the southern portion of the district, including Franklin, Bedford and Henry counties.

Perriello was able to rally enough votes to carry Martinsville, Danville, Charlottesville and his home of Albemarle County.