Lonely Ballot Keeps Virginia Out of Super Tuesday Spotlight

Mitt Romney is predicted to have an easy victory in Virginia's Republican presidential primary Tuesday because the commonwealth’s ballot is a bit different from other primaries.

“There just hasn’t been much of a campaign here,” George Mason University political analyst Mark Rozell said. “You just can’t see the literature, the robocalls, the coverage that you normally find.”

Romney’s only competition is Ron Paul. Candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Romney, who has the endorsement of Gov. Bob McDonnell, who is considered a possible Romney running mate, last visited northern Virginia volunteers in October. They planned to work the phones Monday night.

Ron Paul drew hundreds of supporters last week at a rally in Springfield.

Many voters told News4 they aren’t enthusiastic about the two-man ballot and will likely sit out the primary.

Some activists want to use the frustration over this primary to reform the process of getting on the ballot in the future.

Northern Virginia tea party leader Ronald Wilcox thinks a convention would be a better way to select presidential candidates.

“It’s very disappointing to a lot of people,” he said. “Our members are disappointed. We need a process that focuses the attention on Virginia and getting support of Virginians rather than one that was really kind of designed to get the establishment favorite as the nominee.”

Even if the turnout is low, the Virginia Republican Party will try to use the primary to boost membership. About 900 volunteers will work the polls looking for new members.

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