Thanks to split decisions in Iowa and New Hampshire that have provided no clear frontrunner for the GOP's presidential nomination, there's a growing sense that Virginia could end up deciding the race in the state's Feb. 12 primary.
While many people thought that was a longshot a couple months ago, a couple things still need to happen for that to become a reality.
First, Republicans will focus on Michigan, Florida and South Carolina. Then they move on to Feb. 5 — Super Tuesday — when more than 20 states will cast their votes and 1,081 delegates are up for grabs.
If no one emerges from those contests as the clear nominee, then Virginia would likely become a battleground.
John Hager, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, this week suggested that is a real possibility.
"If they all pick off delegates in all of these various primaries and caucuses, nobody builds the majority that's needed to get the nomination, and that is why Virginia could still be in play," he said. "We got 60 delegates at stake."
By then, he said, there is a good chance the race will be between Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former New York City New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Adding to the interest is the fact that nearly every top Republican has lined up behind a presidential candidate:
McCain enjoys the support of retiring Virginia Sen. John W. Warner.
House Speaker William J. Howell, Stafford County Republican, jumped on the Huckabee bandwagon in August, well before the media bandwagon existed.
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who has expressed interest in running for governor in 2009, backs Romney.
Attorney General Bob McDonnell, who plans to run for governor in 2009, and former Virginia Sen. George Allen are still waiting for their guy, former Tennesse Senator and "Law & Order" star Fred Thompson to catch fire.
And former Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore says former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has the credentials to lead the country.
As for Hager, he does not feel it is right to give a public endorsement in his role as party chairman.
However, he did say, "We have a pretty good guy to appeal to independents in John McCain."
— Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times
