Conventional wisdom says incumbent candidates in larger political elections have the advantage. For the 10th Congressional District Democratic Committee that conventional wisdom is a double-edged sword.

While on one hand that gives an edge to President Barack Obama –  whom most statewide polls show with a slight edge over Republican Mitt Romney –  the pitfall for liberals is the uphill climb to unseat 30-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia (R-10th).

Charlie Jackson, chair of the 10th District Democrats, voiced optimism for November’s results.

“Obama for America’s grassroots organization has been up and running in Virginia for months and one of their offices opened earlier this year in Leesburg,” Jackson told the Times-Mirror June 4. “Mitt Romney has a lot of catching up to do if he’s going to match the excitement Virginians have for President Obama.”

Commenting on his committee’s structure, Jackson said volunteers and local organizers are the lifeblood of the local left.

Earlier this year, the group held a strategic planning session, during which it discussed plans to focus its efforts on identifying Dems at the grassroots level in strategic precincts across the 10th District.

“We feel identifying, talking to and understanding voters is the best way we can specifically help our efforts in 2012 and also lay the groundwork for success in future elections,” said Jackson.

Kristin Cabral, the Democrat’s nominee for the 10th Congressional District race, is holding her official campaign kickoff June 9 at the Historic Courthouse in Leesburg. 

“People are frustrated and angry by all the partisan bickering in Congress,” Cabral said during an interview in April. “They want results and Northern Virginia deserves results. Frank Wolf has been in Congress for more than 30 years and he’s become part of the problem.”

In May, the 10th Democrats elected Karen Schultz, EJ Scott and Jan Wilson as 10th District female representatives to the National Convention, while Hung Nguyen, Steve Ames, Monte Johnson and Dan Lloyd as male representatives. Evan Macbeth was selected the 10th District’s Elector.

President Obama took Virginia over Sen. John McCain in 2008 with nearly 53 percent of the vote to McCain’s 46 percent. Obama claimed 54 percent of the vote in Loudoun County, though before 2008 it had been decades since Loudoun went blue in a presidential election.

Wolf won his 2010 election handedly with more than 60 percent of the 10th District ballots cast in his favor.

Touching on the local and statewide political climate, Jackson said the 10th District Democrats have seen a sharp rise in interest from independent voters.

These voters “are moving away from the Republican Party as it shifts to the far right. We saw steep increases in volunteer efforts when Gov. McDonnell and General Assembly Republicans overreached in the 2012 session, working to mandate trans-vaginal ultrasounds and to deny a man a job because of his sexual orientation,” said Jackson.