GOP: Gingrich, Perry Will Not Be On Va. Ballot

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry have failed to qualify for Virginia's March 6 Republican presidential primary.

The failure represents a snag for Gingrich, who has recently risen to frontrunner status in the GOP race for the nomination.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul will be on the ballot.

The Republican Party of Virginia announced Friday night and early Saturday on its Twitter website that Gingrich and Perry fell short of the 10,000 signatures of registered voters required for a candidate's name to be on the primary ballot. Romney and Paul met that threshold.

State GOP spokesman Garren Shipley said volunteers spent Friday validating petitions that the four candidates submitted by the Thursday 5 p.m. deadline to the State Board of Elections.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)