Kilgore picks up NRA support

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The National Rifle Association yesterday endorsed Republican Jerry W. Kilgore to be Virginia's next governor, while members of a key gun-rights lobby fumed over remarks about their leadership made by the Kilgore campaign.

The NRA, based in Virginia, gave Mr. Kilgore, the former state attorney general, an "A" rating and Democrat Timothy M. Kaine, the lieutenant governor, an "F."

"Jerry Kilgore is the one candidate that will stand for the Second Amendment and for the honor and freedom to own guns," said Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's executive vice president, who joined Mr. Kilgore on a statewide fly-around tour to announce the endorsement.

But some grass-roots members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) say they will not vote for Mr. Kilgore Nov. 8 because one of his staffers said the VCDL's president has "no credibility" on Second Amendment issues.

"I am pro-life, reeling from the great tax hike of 2004, a staunch Second Amendment defender and wild horses could not drag me to vote for Kilgore," said Mike Downey, a Colonial Beach resident.

The gubernatorial race has tightened, with recent polls showing Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Kaine tied and few Virginians undecided. The election could be decided by a few thousand votes.

The Washington Times reported Saturday that the VCDL won't make an endorsement in the race because Mr. Kilgore failed to submit its survey, which includes questions about where candidates stand on efforts to repeal a ban on concealed weapons in bars. VCDL wants to repeal the ban.

Kilgore spokesman Tucker Martin said the candidate has "great respect" for VCDL members but would not submit the survey because "their president, Philip Van Cleave, unfortunately has no credibility on Second Amendment issues."

Yesterday, Mr. Kilgore said he does not personally know Mr. Van Cleave but members of his staff do.

"I don't want [VCDL members] to take it as an insult," he said. "I just want them to look at our records and move beyond this and recognize which candidate is the candidate that supports gun owners' rights. They don't need a survey to decide that."