Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate to submit petitions qualifying him for a spot on Virginia's primary ballot in February.

Obama supporters presented about 20,000 petitions to the State Board of Elections Wednesday morning after a pep talk from Governor Timothy M. Kaine, who endorsed Obama in February.

Virginia's primary on February 12 is likely to be anticlimactic. It falls one week after the Super Tuesday primaries, which are likely to seal the nominations for both parties.

Among the delegate-rich states holding their primaries on February 5 are California, Illinois and New York.

Kaine campaigned for Obama in Iowa shortly before Thanksgiving and plans to return there late next month.