Virginia moved firmly into the purple column with statewide Democratic successes last year, one reason there’s been a lot of soul-searching going on in the national Republican Party.

Not in Virginia’s. Party regulars at the state Republican convention will see only bright red in May, when they pick their slate for statewide offices in the November election.

That was evident in the dismayingly uniform message delivered at a weekend candidates forum in Rockbridge County featuring seven GOP contenders for the party’s lieutenant governor nomination: If you’re leaning right of right wing, each seemed eager to assure, I’m your man. Or woman, in the case of Jeannemarie Davis.

The General Assembly’s transportation funding compromise, a signal achievement for Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell? Raised taxes. Against it.

Legal abortion? Ditto.

Gun control? Not on your life.

A crowded field or a single candidate, it makes little difference.

Tea partyers who back Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to head the ticket assured that “choice” on any issue would not be an option when they engineered the switch from a primary to a state convention sure to be dominated by hard-liners. Like-minded pols have lined up for a spot on the ballot — or fallen in line.

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