Not really, Hurdle laughs. His grandkids wrote that to honor their pop-pop's hometown.

What's now Carolina Brothers Pit Barbeque used to be a landmark in Ashburn: the Partlow Brothers store. They sold groceries, hardware, gas, oil. Hurdle, 64, is a stonemason by trade but bought the Partlow building six years ago and took up barbecue.

From Hurdle's place, it's easy to imagine the old Ashburn. Some of the Victorian houses have been restored with curatorial care, though many of the old buildings were torn down. There are still trees and greenery here along Ashburn Road, but perhaps not for long.

NV Homes planted a trailer a stone's throw from Hurdle's place to build 18 high-end homes in a newly developed cul-de-sac. All 18 are stamped sold on the site plan.

Hurdle can feel the changes sweeping Ashburn. He can see it every day in his restaurant. On this day, there is a young Sikh boy, a Muslim man and working women on a lunch break. He added beef and chicken to his menu to keep up with changing dietary needs. "Not everyone eats pig," he says. "But they all eat barbecue."

He also thought they would all vote for Romney.

"I was surprised the election was so close," he adds.

He shows off a picture of a sign that a friend sent him: "Guns allowed on premises." It's in line with Hurdle's values. One of the reasons he voted for Romney was because he is against abortion, he says.

Employee Jen Steele pipes up. She's 23 and working her way through nursing school. She grew up in a Republican family but says her generation has gone beyond aligning with parties.

"For me, it's issues," she says, working the cash register. "I didn't vote for Romney."

"For the same reason I voted for him," Hurdle says.

Steele voted for the GOP in 2008 but was turned off by comments from Republican politicians on rape and abortion. It felt like an assault on women.

She thought Obama delivered a message of inclusiveness, like he cared for everyone no matter what their station in life. She even saw a TV ad he made entirely in Spanish.

"But he's got his work cut out for him," she says.

Hurdle answers: "Maybe we need term limits in Congress."

The new Americans

Attorney John Whitbeck, 36, makes it a point to show up at events like Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, where he tries to tout the merits of the GOP. South Asians tend to vote Democratic.

Republican state delegate David Ramadan filed a bill this year that would officially recognize Diwali day.

Whitbeck, chairman of the 10th Congressional District Republican Committee, concedes his party did not do a great job in reaching out to Loudoun's newest citizens.

Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, Loudoun County's white population dropped from 83% to 69%. The county is now almost 15% Asian (a huge number are from the Indian subcontinent) and 13% Hispanic.

The rapidly changing demographics played a big role in Obama's victory here, as they did nationally.

"It all starts with the recognition that the cultural framework of Loudoun County includes them," Whitbeck says. "Our children go to the same schools yours do. You are just as able to be a part of the Republican Party as the white middle-class guy."

But that message has so far fallen short with many South Asians like accountant Hari Sharma. who sees the GOP as making token efforts to gain his vote. He'll watch the inauguration Monday with hope in his heart that this president will make America feel more like home to those who are fairly new here.

"Obama's policies are more supportive of immigrants," he says.

As someone who looks at income tax returns for a living, he thinks Obama is on the right track by increasing taxes for the wealthy. Sharma says Obama has done a good job in turning the economy around and thanks the president for his 401(k) rising back up after it was halved. He applauds Obama for starting the new year with an effort to curb gun violence.