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GOP convention held in Richmond

Posted at 12:26 AM, Jun 17, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-17 00:26:44-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – Thousands of Virginia Republicans gathered at the Greater Richmond Convention Center Sunday to select delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida later this summer.

Virginia is considered a must-win state for Republicans and an important state for Democrats, who won Virginia in 2008 for the first time since 1964.

The GOP also tried to unify their party, especially after a vote this week by the GOP’s State Central Committee. They decided to change their method for choosing candidates for statewide elections in 2013 from an open primary to a convention.

[MORE: State Central Committee vote]

Political experts believe the change will benefit Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s bid for governor, while impeding Lieutenant Gov. Bill Bolling’s bid. His camp was pushing to keep a primary. Neither candidate chose to mention the vote during their speeches Sunday.

Bolling pounded President Obama and other Democrats with his speech, supporting the presidential bid of fellow Republican and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Cuccinelli called the current administration “the greatest set of lawbreakers to ever run the federal government” in his lifetime. Cuccinelli also showed his support for Romney.

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