BY WESLEY P. HESTER

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will visit Virginia on Tuesday with an event in the Roanoke area, according to an invitation from state Sen. Ralph K. Smith, R-Botetourt.

The event will be held at Carter Machinery in Salem, according to Smith’s email to supporters, and will begin at noon. 

Romney made two campaign stops in Virginia in early May, holding events in Chantilly and Portsmouth. He also delivered the commencement address at Liberty University in Lynchburg. President Barack Obama officially kicked off his reelection effort in Richmond last month.

The Roanoake-Lynchburg area is seen as one of the most critical battleground regions in the state along with the Richmond area and Hampton Roads. All three are consistently ranked among the top five media markets in the nation for advertising from the presidential campaigns and outside groups.

No more information on Romney’s trip to the state was immediately available.