Marshall Will Run for Va. Senate

WASHINGTON— WTOP Radio has learned Del. Bob Marshall (R-13) will announce his candidacy to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by John Warner.

Marshall plans to make his official announcement Monday afternoon in Richmond inside the Assembly Building. However, he told WTOP Radio Sunday afternoon that he does plan to run for the Republican nomination.

Marshall will be running against former Governor Jim Gilmore, who had previously been running unopposed for the Republican Party nomination.

The Republicans will be using a special convention rather than a primary in the spring to choose their candidate.

Marshall was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1991.

He said it was a "uniformly excellent response" that he received from contacting Republican activists and grassroots organizations from across Virginia that led him to decide to run.

WTOP political analyst Mark Plotkin said Marshall's entry into the race brings another level of excitement because he is considered a renegade inside the Republican Party. He described Marshall as intelligent and thought-provoking.

"This causes a little excitement, flurry of anticipation and some suspense," Plotkin said Sunday. "Any time one party differs over one or two candidates, the other party is very happy. This makes for a more interesting race."

Marshall believes his past experience and ability to reach across party lines makes him an excellent candidate.

On the Democratic side former Va. Governor Mark Warner leads in state polls for the Senate seat by a large margin.

"Obviously, [Mark Warner] has the money advantage," Marshall told WTOP Radio, "but in a certain sense that might be a disadvantage if the Democrats think that money alone is going to get them the nomination."

Marshall serves as the vice-chairman of the Counties, Cities and Towns Committee. In addition, he serves as the chairman of the Privileges and Elections Sub Committee, and the Assembly's Joint Stem Cell Study Committee.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)