McDonnell, GOP leader to visit Culpeper

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell will visit Culpeper Friday afternoon for a campaign rally, accompanied by Michael Steele, the party’s national chairman. The rally is scheduled to start at 1:45 p.m. at the Depot on Commerce Street.

Joining McDonnell and Steele will be two other candidates for statewide office — Bill Bolling, who is running for lieutenant governor and Ken Cuccinelli, who’s running for attorney general.

Del. Ed Scott, R-Madison, and other local Republican candidates are also expected.

McDonnell campaign spokeswoman Stacey Johnson said the Culpeper event will probably last about 45 minutes. It’s part of a five-day, 25-stop campaign tour that concludes in Virginia Beach with a rally on Monday night. This will be McDonnell’s second visit to the area in about a week. His most recent visit was last Thursday, when he discussed job creation with local builder Anthony Clatterbuck.

“This is a critical election for Virginia’s future,” McDonnell said in a statement. “To get our economy back on track, we must keep taxes low, control spending, get traffic moving again and improve our schools.”

Commonwealth’s Attorney Gary Close said the fact that all of the state’s Republican candidates and the party’s national leader are planning to visit Culpeper days before the election demonstrates how important Virginia’s elections are at the national level.

“Clearly people are paying attention to Virginia because of how it went at the last election,” said Close, referring to Obama’s victory here last fall.

Close, a longtime resident and Republican supporter, also said it’s interesting to witness how Culpeper has become a key town on Virginia’s political landscape.

“It’s really quite amazing to see how Culpeper has kind of risen in the consciousness in the minds of newsmakers and news writers,” said Close. “That is something you would not have seen 20 years ago or even 10 years ago.”

To RSVP for Friday’s rally or for more information, e-mail or call (804) 612-9111.