Elected officials, activists and Republican Party supporters of all stripes converged on the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va. Friday and Saturday for the Virginia Republican Party's 21st annual Advance conference, kicking off the Republican 2005 campaign effort.
Although the Advance featured a wide variety of strategy meetings, seminars and presentations, attendees said two events stood out: a speech by Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, the likely Republican nominee for governor, and a straw poll held to gauge early levels of support for Republican candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Kilgore discussed his optimistic vision of Virginia's future, but also sought to draw stark contrasts between himself and Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, the likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee, according to those in attendance.
Shawn Smith, executive director of the Virginia Republican Party, said Kilgore has secured the party's support.
"Jerry Kilgore is putting in place an aggressive grassroots strategy and the Republican Party of Virginia will be tireless in our efforts to make sure he is elected governor," Smith said.
While multiple candidates are running for the other statewide executive offices, the straw polls pointed to early favorites. Of the candidates for lieutenant governor, Sen. Bill Bolling, R-Hanover, received 222 votes out of 438 cast, or nearly 51 percent. Sean Connaughton, chair of the Prince William Board of Supervisors, came in second with 154 votes, or 35 percent. Del. Joe May, R-Loudoun, and Gil Davis, a Fairfax attorney, received only 32 and 30 votes, respectively.
In the race for attorney general, Del. Bob McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach, easily outpaced Steve Baril, a Richmond attorney, by 350 votes to 98 votes or 78 to 22 percent.
Over 600 people attended the Advance, according to Smith.
"This was our most successful Advance in quite some time," Smith said.
College Republicans members from the University and other Virginia colleges attended the event, including College Republicans Treasurer Meredith Ramsey.
Ramsey called the event a "great experience" and said she was already looking forward to returning next year.
"The Advance gives you the opportunity to meet all the different candidates as well as meet many of the popular faces of the Republican Party in Virginia," Ramsey said.
Although other University students attended the event to support a particular candidate, Ramsey said the College Republicans would not support a particular candidate for lieutenant governor or attorney general until after the June primaries. But like the Republican Party, the College Republicans were ready to support Kilgore, Ramsey said.
The Virginia Republican Party also announced several staff changes at the Advance. Smith, the state party's new executive director and previously the communications director, replaces Shane Ostrowski, who is returning to his home state of Ohio. Political director Jeff Tripp will join the Kilgore campaign.
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