ALAN SUDERMAN

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Ed Gillespie is facing his first big test in his bid for a U.S. Senate.

GOP delegates will pick a candidate Saturday at the Virginia Republican convention in Roanoke to face incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Warner.

Gillespie is a former lobbyist and Republican National Committee chairman. He is the front runner to win the GOP nomination against Shak Hill, a former Air Force pilot and two others. Hill has tried to position himself as the more conservative choice.

Gillespie said he feels very good about his chances of success but says he’s taking nothing for granted and plans on busing in delegates to the convention.

Party conventions tend to favor more conservative candidates than primary elections and have produced surprising results.

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