As Democrat Mark Warner officially kicks off his campaign for Virginia governor next Thursday, the two Republican candidates, Attorney General Mark Earley and Lt. Gov. John Hager are battling for delegates for their June convention.
Earley and Hager recently have locked horns as they attempt to gather delegates for the June convention, which will decide the Republican gubernatorial candidates for the November election. Delegates will be selected from sign-up sheets that have been circulated by both camps.
Because both candidates have worked for the Gilmore administration, Virginia Republicans question which candidate is the favorite for the GOP nomination to be decided in June.
Hager was expected to be the underdog in the Republican race, but "we're definitely seeing a battle," said Scott Keeter, director for the Center of Public Policy at George Mason University.
Hager has managed his public relations very well, Keeter said.
Fairfax County has recently become a battleground between the two candidates in their bitter contest for delegates, Virginia Democratic Party spokeswoman Mary Broz said.
Fairfax is the largest county in Virginia, which makes it a major target for both campaigns.
Reed Boatright, spokesman for John Hager, said it has been more of a waiting game than a battle.
"The Fairfax chairman is taking forever to count the votes," Boatright said. "I think that it's because John [Hager] is winning."
Many people both inside and outside the Republican party believe the majority of the party favors Early for the nomination bid.
"It's simply too early to know the effect of the race between Earley and Hager," Government and Foreign Affairs Prof. Larry J. Sabato said.
"If the contest on the Republican side is close and competitive, it's to Warner's advantage," Sabato said.
Keeter said he sees the nomination campaigns as giving a slight advantage for the Republicans because it gives the candidates better name recognition.
"I still think Warner has a very good shot," Keeter said.
The recent battle in the General Assembly over lowering the car tax already has begun to play a role in the gubernatorial races.
The Democrats have used the car tax as an issue to attack both Hager and Earley.
"Attorney General Earley's and Lieutenant Governor Hager's silence about Governor Gilmore's broken promise [on the budget] and his assault on higher education is troubling," Broz said.
Attacking Earley and Hager on the budget may not be the best idea for the Democrats, Sabato said.
"Warner has had some harsh comments against cutting the car tax," Sabato added.
But while the Republican contest is close and competitive, it's simply too early to know about this November's election, Sabato said.
But "almost all predictions made in March are wrong in November," Sabato said.
The Republican Party of Virginia and Earley's office were not available for comment.
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