Va. GOP drops loyalty-oath plan

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Virginia's Republican Party on Friday abandoned a loyalty oath that would have required primary voters sign a pledge to back the party's nominee in the general election.

The party had been widely criticized for asking the State Board of Elections to put the oath in place for the Feb. 12 primary, which was meant to protect the contest from interference from outside the party. Opponents of the requirement warned it would drive away undecided voters. Virginia residents can vote for members of either party during their primary elections.

"We want to attract people to the Republican Party," said Jim Hyland, chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee. "The perception was that it was more of a closed-door policy, and we want an open-door policy."

Hyland said he has never believed in the notion that many people cross over to influence a party vote.

A committee at the Republican Party's annual winter retreat voted overwhelmingly to pull the request for the oath.

Democrats in Virginia require no such pledge.

The Republican activists are in Arlington this weekend to discuss campaign strategy, with their attention fixed on a potential inner-party feud that could hurt them in next year's marquee U.S. Senate race, according to political observers.

Jim Gilmore may face competitors recruited by Republicans who were unhappy with his term as governor.

Gilmore's term was marred by infighting with moderate Republican lawmakers over his promise to eliminate the car tax, and he has angered conservatives over his support for limited abortion rights.

"I think that there is significant dissatisfaction with Gilmore among some Republicans," said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. "Gilmore was a very divisive figure during his years as governor."

Two delegates - Chris Saxman of Staunton and Manassas' Robert Marshall - are considering mounting a challenge. Saxman is scheduled to announce his plans Saturday in a speech to party activists, while Marshall has not said when he would make a decision.

A convention fight would hurt the Republican nominee against Democrat Mark Warner, who is well-funded and popular, Farnsworth said.

"The person who emerges will be battered," Farnsworth said. "The person will have spent a lot of time and money on getting the Republican nomination that they cannot use against the Democratic opponent."

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com

wflook@dcexaminer.com