The tea party is coming to downtown Richmond, Va., this weekend. Featuring nationally-known speakers, breakout seminars, panel discussions, vendors, and other activities, the first-ever Virginia tea party convention will take place Friday and Saturday, October 8 and 9, at the Richmond Convention Centre with hundreds expected to participate.
Virginia’s top three Republicans will be there — Gov. Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, and Attorney Gen. Ken Cuccinelli — as well as former Virginia U.S. Senator and Governor George Allen, Rep. Steve King from Iowa, Rep. Ron Paul from Texas, and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.
Political pundit Dick Morris, a staple on Fox News Channel and conservative radio programs, will be there along with John Fund of the Wall Street Journal who is also a popular Fox News Channel contributor. Others are Lou Dobbs and Herman Cain who will speak or participate on panels and they will be joined by political analyst Bob Holsworth who writes the Virginia Tomorrow blog. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s wife, Ginni, will also participate.
The event will be covered by mainstream media as well as many from both the Virginia and national conservative blogosphere who will be set up on a bloggers row and reporting from throughout the convention center.
Sponsors of the event include Barack Obama’s latest target, Americans for Prosperity, as well as The Heritage Foundation, Media Research Center, Human Events, B&B Electric, The Middle Resolution, Take Our Country Back PAC, Benefit Design, Virginia Campaign for Liberty, Virginia Citizens Defense League, Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights, Jensen Apparel, Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty, American Majority, Virginia Energy Independence Alliance, American Council for Immigration Reform, Virginia Rule of Law,Get Out Of Our House, and Opt4Text.
Writers are gathering in Richmond preparing to cover the event beginning early Friday morning. I am looking forward to spending time with fellow bloggers including my Washington Examiner Local Opinion Zone and Examiner Opinion Zone co-contributing bloggers Jim Bacon and Norm Leahy.
The Patriots are descending on Richmond … the tea party is in town.
