BY WESLEY P. HESTER
Ahead of the June 12 GOP primary, Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen is kicking off a two-week “Send a Message” tour, complete with special guests.
At rallies and events across the state, Allen will be joined by local officials, congressmen and Gov. Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.
Allen faces three rivals for the nomination: Chesapeake minister E.W. Jackson, state Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, and Chesterfield County tea party activists Jamie Radtke. The winner will face Democratic nominee and former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.
On Thursday, Bolling will help Allen launch the tour at a Denny’s restaurant in Mount Jackson in Shenandoah County. Later in the day, Allen and Bolling will host a business roundtable in Harrisonburg and a rally afterwards.
According to a press release, the purpose of the of the tour is “rallying Virginians to send a message to President Obama, Tim Kaine and their Washington allies by giving George Allen an important victory in the Republican Primary.”
McDonnell will campaign with Allen, a former governor, in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia in the days leading up to the primary. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-9th, will join Allen on Saturday in Southwest Virginia.
Allen’s wife, Susan, will be campaigning in separate parts of the state, kicking off her tour in Fredericksburg Thursday with state Sen. Bryce E. Reeves, R-Spotsylvania. On Saturday, she’ll be joined by Rep. Robert Hurt, R-5th, in Greene County, Charlottesville and Campbell County.
“This election is too important to sit on the sidelines,” Bolling said in a statement. “He is the only candidate in this race with the record of creating jobs, reducing regulations, cutting taxes and fighting Washington waste. George Allen is the right leader for Virginia in the U.S. Senate.”
