VA Republican Primary Will Not Include Perry

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry will not be on Virginia's March 6 Republican presidential primary ballot.

The Republican Party of Virginia said Friday that Perry's campaign had failed to gather the signatures of 10,000 registered voters, the threshold to get on the primary ballot.

Party spokesman Garren Shipley says the party is validating petitions submitted to the State Board of Elections by Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul by Thursday's 5 p.m. deadline. The validation process began Friday morning.

The required 10,000 registered voters must also include 400 signatures from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts.