By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger

You won’t hear former Gov. Jim Gilmore talk about it, but Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas, has scored some plusses on issues popular with the Republican Party base.

Marshall, who is Gilmore’s opponent for the U.S. Senate nomination to be decided May 31 at a state GOP convention, has hit a home run on taxpayer protection with a Virginia Supreme Court victory against the state.

The high court stunned legislators and observers Friday with a unanimous opinion tossing out the ability of regional authorities created by the General Assembly to levy taxes for transportation projects.

Marshall’s suit contended that the legislature acted in an unconstitutional manner by delegating taxing powers to unelected members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

“No taxation without direct representation. That’s government 101,“ Marshall said.

Marshall is scoring points with the GOP base as a foe of this taxation, as a leading advocate of expanding Virginia’s concealed-carry rights for gun owners and as a stalwart foe of abortion.

Gilmore is trying to ignore Marshall and campaign as if he has the convention’s nomination in his pocket.

Delegates to the GOP convention may notice the difference in how the two are treating the value of their nomination votes.

Marshall is appealing directly to the party’s activist base on a number of issues the party regulars care deeply about in his bid to overtake Gilmore. Who knows if he is making headway?