McCain Campaign Gets Aggressive in Virginia

Part of the Virginia delegation, left to right, Judi Lynch of Blacksburg, Christie Craig of Chesapeake and Maureen McDonnell of Richmond, celebrate in St. Paul. (By Ricky Carioti -- The Washington Post)
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Republican activists expect McCain to win the conservative areas of Northern Virginia, including Prince William and Loudoun counties; Hampton Roads, home to the world's largest naval base and evangelical populations; and the rural, mostly white Southside and southwest Virginia.

Activists also hope the self-described maverick can appeal to moderates and independents in Fairfax County. Democrats expect Obama to win big in the rest of Northern Virginia, perform well in competitive Hampton Roads and attract large numbers of African Americans and younger voters of all backgrounds across the state.

McCain's campaign has opened offices in Arlington County, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Roanoke. It will open several more in the coming weeks, according to Del. Christopher B. Saxman (R-Staunton), co-chairman of McCain's Virginia campaign.

Each of Virginia's 124 cities and counties already has a designated chairman serving as a local contact, and the campaign is working to assemble more than 1,000 precinct captains.

"There's no question the McCain campaign will put a tremendous amount of focus on Virginia, and that is already happening,'' said Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), a leading McCain surrogate. "We will continue to see that over the next couple months up until Election Day. . . . Virginia will go for John McCain, but it'll take some work."

Since June, the Obama campaign has opened 42 offices and dispatched dozens of experienced field operatives into communities across Virginia. Obama considered Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to be his running mate and tapped former governor Mark R. Warner to give the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.

Mitch Stewart, state director of Obama's Virginia campaign, said he is pleased with the level of energy and enthusiasm of volunteers and supporters in Virginia. He said the campaign knocked on 125,000 doors during the Labor Day weekend and held 1,000 house parties Aug. 28, the day Obama gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

"I don't think Obama is doing anything in Virginia that McCain is not doing in Virginia," said Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican convention delegate.

Republicans acknowledge that their on-the-ground efforts have languished in recent years. To increase the army of volunteers who will make calls and knock on doors, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell and Bolling, who will run for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, next year, challenged local parties to double their membership in a three-month period ending next week.

McDonnell, Bolling and others called, wrote letters, and held barbecues and chili cook-offs to increase membership. About half of the 124 parties are expected to meet the goal and received money as a reward from McDonnell's and Bolling's campaigns.

Staff writer John Wagner contributed to this report.