Allen Wins Senate Primary in Virginia

Richmond, Virginia
On Tuesday, George Allen, the former governor of Virginia, won the Republican nomination to run for the U.S. Senate seat he once held. Allen won 65 percent of the vote, running far ahead of his closest challenger, Tea Party activist Jamie Radtke. Calling himself the "common sense conservative nominee of the Republican party," Allen spoke to a small crowd of supporters at the Westin hotel in Richmond's West End.

"We've heard from the people of Virginia today," Allen said. "Virginians are fired up, and they're ready for America's comeback."

Allen, who served in the Senate from 2001 to 2007, will run against another former governor, Democrat Tim Kaine, for the Senate seat currently held by retiring Democrat Jim Webb. In 2006, Webb defeated Allen in a close race for which Allen was intially heavily favored.

The rally was jointly held with House majority leader Eric Cantor, who represents Virginia's Seventh Congressional District. Cantor won his primary election with minimal opposition. Speaking half an hour before Allen, Cantor touted the high turnout in Tuesday's primary in his own district as an asset for both Mitt Romney and Allen in the general election.

"We will be sure George Allen gets across the finish line," Cantor said. The majority leader later told reporters that he believes, "Allen's candidacy is the candidacy for the time."