Valley Pulse

Supporters of Republican Richmond area Congressman Eric Cantor are boosting the 45-year-old as a potential running mate for John McCain.

Friends of Cantor from Richmond, Washington and New York recently began an online dialogue and are circulating a petition urging McCain to choose Cantor.

The fault line in the Virginia Republican Party is more like that from an earthquake, not a minor jolt.

Witness this past weekend’s Virginia GOP Convention where former Gov. Jim Gilmore barely garnered enough delegates to become the party’s U.S. Senate nominee, and the trouncing of state GOP Chairman John Hager by Prince William Del. Jeff Frederick.

Perhaps Gilmore’s less than mandate selection is not a surprise given the divide in the GOP and his indifferent fundraising since he announced his candidacy five months ago.