Gov. Bob McDonnell endorsed former Virginia governor George Allen's bid for the U.S. Senate Friday.
Allen, the Republican frontrunner, stated in January his intention to reclaim his seat in the Senate, a position he held before current Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., defeated him in 2006.
Webb has said he plans to retire when his term ends, meaning the Senate seat will be up for grabs.
The endorsement follows the recent Republican state Senate takeover, which the party hopes is indicative of an opportunity to win the vacant seat in the 2012 U.S. Senate elections. "[C]learly Republicans have tremendous momentum in Virginia," McDonnell spokesperson J. Tucker Martin said in an email. "The Governor believes George Allen has the positive vision and record of results that will keep that momentum going by winning this critically important US Senate seat next November."
Republicans have had success in recent Virginia elections. The GOP picked up three congressional seats in the 2010 midterm elections and secured control of both houses of the state legislature last Tuesday.
Allen, who served as governor of Virginia from 1994 to 1998, will face Tea Party leader Jaimie Radtke, among others, for the Republican nomination in the June 2012 primary. The top contender for the Democratic nomination is Tim Kaine, who served as governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010.
Larry Sabato, director of the University's Center for Politics, said "there can't be a less surprising endorsement."
"McDonnell and Allen have been political allies for many years," he said. "McDonnell was certain to back Allen."
McDonnell said in a statement that he became familiar with Allen 15 years ago when he helped Allen, then Virginia's governor, carry a new welfare reform initiative in Richmond.
"George has always looked for innovative and bold solutions to help improve the lives of our fellow citizens. He did that as Governor and as Senator," McDonnell said, stating the need for Allen's "optimistic, results-oriented leadership working for us in Washington again."
McDonnell also announced his intention to join Allen on the campaign trail in the months ahead.
"Republicans win when we run on ideas and results, and George Allen brings both to the table in an exceptional manner," Martin said.
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