Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, was expected to be in Tysons Corner Monday night to raise money for the Virginia Republican Party.
Giuliani was scheduled to speak at the Tysons Corner Marriott as part of the Virginia Republican Party’s “Spring Fling Series.” He is the first of 11 speakers planned, including Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain, both candidates for the 2008 Republican nomination.
The visit comes as a poll of southern states by Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs found Giuliani with an early five-point lead over McCain. The poll was conducted last week and surveyed 719 residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
The event is not an official campaign stop for Giuliani. Virginia Republican Party Communications Director Shaun Kenney said it gives Virginia voters a chance to meet the presidential hopefuls.
“It’s a good time for Virginia Republicans, both to raise funds for the 2007 General Assembly races, and it also gives them a chance to get to know folks who are running for president,” he said.
Kenney added the series gives Republicans a chance to rally before next fall’s elections. Experts said recently they expect many of the races to be close.
