ROCKY MOUNT, Va. (AP) _ U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., an independent whose re-election bid was backed last year by the state Republican Party, endorsed GOP candidate for governor Mark Earley on Wednesday.
The former Democrat, who served in the Virginia Senate before being elected to Southside Virginia's 5th District congressional seat, announced the endorsement during an appearance with Earley at the Rocky Mount Farmers Market.
``Mark Earley has the experience and the know-how to effectively govern the commonwealth's affairs,'' Goode said. ``Having served in Virginia's state Senate with Mark, I am intimately familiar with his consensus-building leadership skills and ability to reach across party lines _ a critical tool for a successful governor.''
Earley, a former state attorney general, is running in the Nov. 6 election against Democrat Mark Warner, a wealthy businessman and former state party chairman.
``Mark Warner considers Virgil Goode a good friend, but he's not at all surprised he's chosen to endorse Earley because he's been consistently endorsing Republicans,'' said Warner spokeswoman Amanda Crumley.
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Please check the FR Virginia Page for news and information.
Perhaps we have different signs, but up here around NoVa Earley's signs are more professional looking, easier to read (candidate and office), and IMHO more patriotic.
Of course, I'm talking mostly about roadside signs. I have only seen ONE Warner sign in a yard in all my surrounding neighborhoods. By contrast, I've seen 8-9 Earley yard signs. And I live in a very split (almost 50/50) voting area.