Gilmore Assails Warner, Who Only Nibbles at the Bait

"I'm confident the people of Virginia are going to pick McCain-Gilmore," said Gilmore, adding that he is not worried about Marshall's challenge from the right in the nomination battle.

Warner said he believes Virginia will be "a very competitive state" regardless of whether Clinton or Obama leads the ticket, although he said he hopes the fight for the nomination ends soon.

Marshall's campaign centers on his opposition to abortion and taxes. He noted that Gilmore supports abortion rights until the eighth week of a pregnancy. Marshall supporters canvassed the event handing out a flier with a picture of a fetus.

"Mr. Gilmore, you're not just pro-choice, you're multiple choice," the flier said.

During his speech, Marshall vowed to be a staunch advocate for conservative principles. "I have not and will not and will never be a go-along, get-along politician," he said.

Warner appeared to relish the fight for the GOP nomination, needling both men during his remarks. "I never thought I'd see the day when either Jim Gilmore or Bob Marshall would be accused of not being far enough to the right," he joked.

Warner did win the traditional Shad Planking battle among the candidates to erect the most signs, with thousands of blue signs that stretched for miles leading into Wakefield, about an hour southeast of Richmond.

The Shad Planking, where Democrats used to pick their candidates for local offices, has been a Virginia tradition for 60 years. E. Floyd Yates of Powhatan, who is 105, was on hand Wednesday and is said to have attended all of them. Most statewide candidates set up booths and doled out free beer, cigars and hot dogs.

John H. Hager, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party and former lieutenant governor, said that more African Americans and women have attended in recent years but that "it's the same camaraderie, same spirit, same rite of spring."