In my story today, I write about Delegate Robert G. Marshall attacking fellow Prince William County Republicans for supporting former Gov. Jim Gilmore, despite his belief, on the issue of abortion, that government should not intrude during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

Since he jumped into the race, Marshall has hammered Gilmore on abortion, and now his maverick tendencies have him criticizing friends.

Still, as Donald Lawson, chairman of the Henry County Republican committee told me yesterday, Marshall remains and unknown commodity in many parts of the state, where committees are deciding who will go to the statewide convention in late May.

"He would be considered an unknown in this part of Virginia," Lawson said.

That leaves most to speculate Marshall's strategy largely involves wooing conservative voters in Northern Virginia, his neck of the woods.

Here is the e-mail Marshall sent to Delegates Jeff Frederick, who is running for state party chairman, Scott Lingamfelter and also the press:

Jeff and Scott,

YOU two ARE LISTED as a SUPPORTERS of Jim Gilmore in this Gilmore email to Prince WIlliam Republicans.

You are Publically endorsing Jim GIlmore who supports LEGAL Abortion for 8 weeks, 700,000 abortions to fellow PRince WIlliam Republicans.

Why did you omit this fact which is important to Prince WIlliam REpublicans who OPPOSE legal abortion when you urged Prince WIlliam Republicans to support Jim GIlmore? Why the lack of candor?

Jim GIlmore also told Human Events he wanted situations of extremes (unspecified) for legal abortion.

He told a major Republican donor and former supporter THIS YEAR he wanted rape and incest abortions legal, and also health abortions to be legal.

Is their any legal abortion left Jim Gilmore won't support?

— Bob Marshall

— Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times