Griffith setting stage for Congressional bid

RICHMOND -- After weeks of indecision, state Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, is lining up support for a likely campaign against Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher of Abingdon.

Griffith, the majority leader of the House of Delegates, has been reaching out to party leaders and activists in the 9th Congressional District today to gauge support for his candidacy and is nearing a decision to formally enter the race. Griffith will have to make his decision official by March 1, the deadline for Republican candidates to file in the district.

“It’s going to take a lot of time and money, but I believe it can be done,” Griffith said in a telephone interview this afternoon. “I just have to make sure there’s nothing I’ve overlooked.”

Griffith, who has been pondering a candidacy for several weeks, said he has not made a firm decision. But two state Republican officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said today that Griffith is likely to run for the congressional seat after getting positive feedback from GOP activists in the district.


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