By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger
Virginia Republicans in the General Assembly are flocking more to the standard of John McCain than to any of the other candidates left after Rudy Giuliani bowed out today.
McCain backers led by Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, plan to showcase that support Thursday at the General Assembly.
A 4:30 p.m. event hosted by Saxman, co-chair with U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Alexandria, of McCain’s Virginia campaign, will feature a former Secretary of State and at least a baker’s dozen of state legislators.
Saxman and Lawrence Eagleburger of Albemarle County will showcase the growing busload of McCain luminaries.
McCain backers in the House of Delegates include: David B. Albo of Springfield, Thomas D. Gear of Hampton, Phillip A. Hamilton of Newport News, Terry G. Kilgore of Gate City, Donald Merricks of Danville, Harvey B. Morgan of Gloucester, Dave Nutter of Christiansburg, John M. O’Bannon of Henrico County, Glenn Oder of Newport News and Ed Scott of Madison.
Sens. Robert Hurt of Chatham and Ryan McDougle of Mechanicsville also are backing McCain, Saxman said.
House Speaker William J. Howell of Stafford County and Clarke N. Hogan of South Boston are in Mike Huckabee’s camp, which Howell chairs in Virginia.
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, R-Mechanicsville, heads up the Romney camp in Virginia. House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith of Salem is on board with Romney as are Dels. Jackson Miller of Manassas and Chris Peace of Mechanicsville.
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Posted by ( ) on January 31, 2008 at 12:04 pm
What a difference 8 years make! I remember in 2000 when the Republican establishment opposed John McCain, it was certainly a different story. I had known both John and his younger brother, Joe in high school; I was between them.
On February 24, 2000, Joe McCain cme to Richmond to drum up support for John’s campaign for the Republican nomination. I heard he was on Capitol Square and went down to speak to him. I invted him to sit under the gallery of the House during the session and said I would get a Republican member to introduce him. This was just a courtesy extended to visitors to the House and I thought it would be apropriate to have a member of his own party do the honors…Boy, was I wrong
I went around and asked about five delegates…to no avail. Finally, Minority Leader, Vance Wilkins said “Why don’t you just go ahead and do it?“
So it came to pass that I—a staunch Democrat but an admirer of John McCain—did the introduction. Curiously,John doesn’t seem to lack for “friends” now.
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