RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – On Saturday President Barack Obama is scheduled to rally at the VCU Siegel Center for one of two official events in his re-election effort. But the president is not the only one on the campaign trail through the Commonwealth.
Before Mr. Obama comes to Virginia, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made his way to Chantilly, Va., Wednesday morning. And later in the evening, Romney made a stop in Arlington, Va., for a fundraiser.
The reason Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are campaigning in Virginia is simple, according to CBS 6 political analyst Dr. Bob Holsworth.
"We are going to be a battleground state," said Dr. Holsworth. "I think it's going to be a very, very close race."
Campaigning alongside Romney is Governor Bob McDonnell--who some have pegged as a possible GOP vice-presidential candidate. McDonnell also has a high approval rating among Virginia voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted in March.
However, only time will tell if the governor's political popularity will help Mitt Romney's campaign to become the next Commander In Chief.
"Typically people vote for the President and not the Vice-President," said Dr. Holsworth.
Right now the political poll has President Obama with an eight point lead over Romney here in the Commonwealth. But whoever plans to call the White House home in November, Virginia voters are expected to play a vital role in the process.
"I think in some ways this is going to be great for Virginia, because we are going to be almost ground zero in the presidential race," said Dr. Holsworth.
Mitt Romney is also scheduled for political events in Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Va., on Thursday. While President Obama is set to rally at the Siegel Center at 4:35 p.m. on Saturday. The doors will open at 1:45 p.m. Organizers of the event say for those without tickets, there is a chance they will be allowed in to hear the President speak, if they arrive early.
