State Sen. Mark Obenshain speaks at the Virginia Republican convention in Richmond on May 18. He currently holds a 17-vote lead over Democratic state Sen. Mark Herring in the state's attorney general election. Steve Helber/AP hide caption

President Obama visited Dallas Wednesday partly to cheer up volunteers who help people enroll in Obamacare. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption

Onita Sanders (right), a certified application counselor at the Southeastern Virginia Health System, helps Virginia resident Brenda Harrell with health coverage options at Enrollfest in Hampton, Va., on Tuesday. Jenny Gold for NPR hide caption

The increasingly negative campaign that is the Virginia race for governor between Republican Ken Cuccinelli (left) and Democrat Terry McAuliffe could keep some voters home. Steve Helber/AP hide caption

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell won one of two governorships that the GOP picked up in 2009. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney pauses while speaking at a campaign rally at the Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., on Monday. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

Texas Gov. Rick Perry campaigns in South Carolina on Jan. 9. Perry is suing Virginia to get his name on its March 6 primary ballot. RAINIER EHRHARDT/Reuters /Landov hide caption

A supporter takes a photo with a cell phone as former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich greets supporters Dec. 22 in Richmond. Gingrich said then that he would gather enough signatures to make the Virginia ballot, but over the weekend he failed to qualify. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption