Va. GOP To Pick U.S. Senate Candidate

A Republican by his 18th birthday, Gilmore was committed in the 1960s to building up the GOP in Virginia, even though almost everyone he knew in his home town of Richmond was a Democrat. Gilmore, 58, rose through the ranks of the GOP, becoming attorney general, then serving as governor from 1998 to 2002, a position he used to help elect the first Republican majority in the General Assembly in Virginia history.

But as thousands of GOP activists meet in Richmond Saturday for the state party convention, Gilmore's political future is on the line.

Gilmore is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) but faces a stiff challenge at the convention from Del. Robert G. Marshall (Prince William), who is making his first run for statewide office with little money or paid staff. Robert D. "Bob" Berry, a longtime conservative activist from Springfield, is also a candidate but is not expected to attract many votes.

Gilmore all but declared victory last month when he announced he had secured enough delegates to win the nomination, a claim backed up by several GOP officials.

Despite Gilmore's being favored, other Virginia Republicans said they wouldn't be surprised if Marshall pulls off an upset.

"Bob Marshall has gotten where he is because he campaigned harder than Jim Gilmore," said David Avella, chairman of the 8th District Republican Committee, which includes Alexandria, Falls Church, Arlington County and part of Fairfax County. "In the past few weeks, we have seen a redoubling of efforts by the Gilmore campaign to make sure they win the nomination. But I think, strategically, they misstepped into thinking they had this nomination won."

Avella added, "There are some people in our party that will run through a wall for Jim Gilmore, and there are others that won't cross the street to shake his hand."

Gilmore, who has outspent Marshall by more than 8 to 1, declined to be interviewed.

Marshall, a staunch opponent of abortion and well known for his theatrics on the House floor, has built a network of social conservatives disappointed that Gilmore supports abortion rights until the eighth week of pregnancy. Marshall has also tapped into a contingent of Republicans who just don't like Gilmore, despite his past efforts on behalf of the party.

"Jim is a man of very strong principles, and if you don't agree with him, he doesn't take it very well," said Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle (R-Virginia Beach), who has been critical of Gilmore but pledges to support him in the fall if he is the nominee. "He has very strong convictions, and sometimes when you are like that, you make as many enemies as you make friends. When Jim was governor, you either agreed with him or you were his enemy, so there are a lot of hard feelings over that."

Marshall also has his share of GOP critics, especially in the House, where he has developed a reputation for clashing with GOP leaders and pushing policies that he knows have little chance of passing.