As the Virginia 2001 election campaign season draws near, both the Democratic and Republican parties are beginning the selection process for their slate of gubernatorial candidates.
Mark Warner will head the Democratic ticket for governor in November's election.
While Warner officially will begin his campaign until March, he has been traveling around the state trying to gain support.
Warner, who lost the 1996 Senate race against Sen. John Warner (R), is a businessman from Northern Virginia worth nearly $200 to $300 million, Government Prof. Larry J. Sabato said.
Two prominent Virginia Republicans have emerged as contenders against Warner in the race for governor.
The Republicans will hold a statewide convention in June to select between Attorney General Mark Earley and Lieutenant Gov. John Hager for the gubernatorial candidate to oppose.
Ed Matricardi, executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, said he believes both Republican candidates are well suited for the position of governor.
But there seems to be some contention aong Republicans as Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R) tries to get Hager to step out of the race.
Reed Boatright, spokesman for Friends of John Hager, said Earley's long political career may be the reason Gilmore is favoring his candidacy.
Hager only has worked in politics for four years, Boatright said.
But some Republicans said they feel having two candidates shows the strength of the party in Virginia.
Matricardi said he sees Warner running unopposed as a sign of a dying Virginia Democratic Party.
"Even though Warner is $300 million man, [the Republican] message and organization will trump Warner's money everyday of the week," he said.
But Republicans may face some problems as they enter the campaign season.
Warner has raised more money than both of his Republican challengers on top of hs own, Virginia Democratic Party spokeswoman Mary Broz said.
But Republicans will have large amounts of money because Gilmore is the Republican National Committee chairman and will make sure money gets to Virginia's Republican candidates, Broz said.
Republicans also face the problem of moving from a primary system to a convention system.
This type of nomination procedure eliminates much of the mass advertising and publicity usually associated with primaries. Voters will not see Republican ads for office until June, said Boatright.
Democratic candidates for other Commonwealth offices include Alan Diamonstein, Jerrauld Jones and Tim Kaine for lieutenant governor and Whitt Clement, Sylvia Clute, John Edwards and Donald McEachin for attorney general.
The Republican candidates are Randy Forbes and Jay Katzen for lieutenant governor. Jerry Kilgore will be nominee for attorney general.
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