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Senate hopefuls line up votes
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GOP candidates for U.S. Senate battling for delegates
Date published: 4/28/2008
By CHELYEN DAVIS
RICHMOND-- In a month, state Republicans will meet to choose a U.S. Senate candidate. But the two contenders are already counting heads, and both claim to have a lead.
Former Gov. Jim Gilmore and Del. Bob Marshall are vying for the nomination to replace retiring GOP Sen. John Warner. The winner will face Demcratic former governor Mark Warner in November's general election.
Gilmore, who was elected governor in 1997 on his "no car tax" pledge, is running largely on a platform of controlling government spending, limiting taxes and improving the economy.
Marshall, who represents Prince William County in the House of Delegates, has a lengthy record of social-issue conservatism. He's known for opposition to abortion and to gay marriage, and says that Gilmore is not pro-life enough for many Republicans.
Republicans chose a convention to decide between Gilmore and Marshall, which means local Republican committees are meeting to pick people to go to the convention as delegates.
The convention is May 30-31 in Richmond.
There are 10,519 delegate votes, according to Republican Party of Virginia spokesman Josh Noland. About 80 percent of them had been chosen by the end of last week. Interest among Republicans is high, thanks also in part to a hotly contested race for Republican Party chairman between former Lt. Gov. John Hager and Del. Jeff Frederick of Prince William.
There is no requirement for those delegates to choose which candidate they're backing until they get to the convention floor.
BOTH CLAIM TO LEAD
But both candidates have been heavily canvassing the delegates, asking for informal commitments. And both claim that based on that, they think they're going to win.
Gilmore last week sent out a press release saying he had the commitment of at least 6,000 delegates, which is just over the number he would need to win.
"A clear majority of the convention delegates representing more than 6,000 votes have committed to support Governor Gilmore," Matt Wells, Gilmore's campaign political director, said in the statement. "A solid turnout at the GOP convention will be needed to seal victory. We have been able to activate a statewide organization almost overnight, and the depth of our strength can be seen in strong pro-Gilmore delegations from every part of Virginia."
But Marshall claims Gilmore's math is wrong.
He responded later in the week with his own press release, calling Gilmore's head count "baloney.
Date published: 4/28/2008
Most recent reader comments:
1 comments have been posted.
"Marshall says that Gilmore is not pro-life enough for many Republicans."
Perhaps Mr. Marshall is way to conservative for many Republicans. It's hard to believe there's someone out there who thinks Gilmore is not conservative enough.
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Not conservative enough?
(posted by
LastManStanding
, Apr. 28, 2008 10:32 am)
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