Suddenly, candidates find Virginia delegates on the radar

ARLINGTON

After a 24-state slugfest that failed to settle either party’s presidential nomination, the 2008 campaign for president arrived Wednesday in Virginia , as the five remaining candidates assessed their chances and plotted strategies for Tuesday’s Democratic and Republican primaries.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who battled Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to a draw in the Democrats’ Super Tuesday states, was the first to arrive; she looked to the Old Dominion to stop Obama from a sweep in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Obama and at least two of the three Republicans still running, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Govs. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, were expected to make stops in the state by the weekend.

“I think that I have a very strong base of support among a lot of the electorate who understand how the federal government works,” Clinton told reporters at a late afternoon news conference in Arlington. The former first lady predicted “the work that I’ve done on behalf of the military and military families” also will attract voters here.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Clinton has been an outspoken supporter of military pay and benefit increases, as well as tougher measures to combat sexual harassment of servicewomen. Thousands of military-minded voters never warmed to her husband’s administration, however, recalling his efforts to avoid the military draft during the Vietnam War era.

Yet in a conference call with reporters, Clinton strategist Mark Penn sought to downplay expectations. He said Obama should be favored in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and has advantages in Virginia as well.

If elected, Obama would become the first black to serve as president; Clinton would be the first woman to occupy the Oval Office. Black voters, who’ve overwhelmingly favored Obama in most recent contests, are an important part of the Democratic electorate in both states and the District. Clinton acknowledged that Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has endorsed Obama, though she smilingly reminded reporters that last week’s Obama endorsement from venerable Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy failed to produce an Obama victory in the Bay State.

“It’s wonderful to have endorsers and supporters. But, at the end of the day, this is a decision between two real people. It’s our names that are going to be on the ballot, nobody else’s,” Clinton said.

Both Clinton and Obama have rolled out lists of prominent Virginia supporters this week. A “Women for Obama leadership team” announced Wednesday seemed likely to raise some eyebrows in Democratic circles; its co-chairs include Lisa Collis, the wife of former governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner.

Warner is remaining neutral in the Clinton-Obama contest, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall insisted. Collis is “an accomplished and independent woman in her own right, who reached this decision herself,” he said.

Clinton scheduled a rally for this afternoon at an Arlington high school and confirmed plans to speak Saturday at the state Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond. Obama, who spoke at the dinner last year, has not disclosed his schedule, but House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Henry, said legislators have been told to expect him.

Other Democrats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Obama is considering appearances at black churches in Norfolk on Sunday. Among Republicans, GOP leaders in Virginia Beach said they’re trying to book McCain, the front-runner after Super Tuesday, to speak at a Saturday morning breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Bonney Road. Chuck Smith, who is coordinating McCain’s campaign locally, said the appearance is still uncertain.

Appearing on MSNBC Wednesday, Sen. John Warner declared McCain the presumptive Republican nominee. “John has locked it up,” he said.

Romney is eyeing a tour of major Virginia media markets on Sunday, said Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who added that he spoke to Romney on Wednesday about possible visits.

Bolling was optimistic about Romney’s candidacy despite setbacks to the campaign on Super Tuesday. The challenge, he said, is getting voters “to understand that he is the only consistent conservative we have in this race.”

Huckabee’s plans in Virginia also were uncertain. State House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, who chairs Huckabee’s Virginia committee, said he has not been in contact with the campaign recently.

“I don’t know what will happen,” he said.

Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com

Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com