Virginia in play, GOP concerned

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Republicans are concerned that John McCain could be the first GOP presidential nominee to lose Virginia since 1964, political analysts say.

Polls indicate Virginia may be a battleground in the November election, and party regulars are concerned that the McCain campaign has waited too long to contest the state, Politico reported Sunday.

Democratic nominee Barack Obama has spent millions of dollars on advertising in Virginia, and has collaborated with the state Democratic Party to open 49 campaign offices. Obama, his wife, Michelle, and running mate Joe Biden have visited the Old Dominion a combined 12 times since Obama secured his party's nomination in June, the report said.

By contrast, McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, have held just one campaign event in Virginia -- even though the campaign headquarters is in Arlington, a Virginia suburb of Washington. The campaign has stopped running TV ads in Washington.

Rep. Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican who is retiring from Congress this year, told Politico he thinks McCain will win Virginia, but the campaign needs to increase its presence in the state.

"I think they've got to pay more attention," Davis said.