Salem, VA - Both Vice Presidential candidates are coming to the Commonwealth and they'll be making stops in our area. Joe Biden will be in Martinsville on Friday and Republican candidate Sarah Palin stumps in Salem on Monday.

About that Palin visit, for weeks area Republicans were hoping she or John McCain (web|news|bio) would make a stop in our area before Election Day. Now, they're getting their wish. Conservatives here are fired-up for next week's rally. We caught up with some supporters. They are ecstatic and say this is happening at just the right time.

With polls showing the race tightening up in the Commonwealth, Republicans say this'll give conservatives a big push going into Election Day. Shelia Wilson can not wait to see Sarah Palin.

Shelia Wilson, Voting For McCain - "Before she became Governor of Alaska, she was just a soccer mom, just like one of us."

Years ago, the mother of three juggled work and raising her son who has Downs Syndrome. Wilson says, if she can do it, then Sarah Palin can serve as Vice-President and raise her special needs child as well.

Wilson - "He's taken care of. I think she can do just as well of a job. She has other children, I have other children."

And other area Republicans say the McCain campaign needs to send a big gun, like Palin, into rural Virginia.

Brenda Whitehead, Republican Supporter - "It's about time. I think it would be wonderful to see McCain here."

Especially since Barack Obama (web|news|bio) has already held five different rallies west of I-95 and Joe Biden will be in the Southside on Friday. Political analysts say Democratic pressure is a big reason Palin is heading to rural Virginia, traditionally conservative territory.

Jonathan Martin, Politico.com - "Sarah Palin plays well in Southwest Virginia. She is someone who will appeal to a lot of people in that Roanoke-area, in part because her appeal to conservatives. So it makes all the sense in the world to send her there."

And local Republicans don't want Obama making any more room in the polls.

Wendell Walker, Lynchburg Republican Committee - "Of course you've got to be competitive. If the Democrats are going to be here, Republicans need to have their candidates here."

And in Palin, the Republicans have a candidate who brings a lot of enthusiasm.

Whitehead - "Sarah's here, and that's great."

And she's a big draw too. Some of Palin's rallies have actually pulled in more people than John McCain's. Palin will hold her Monday rally at the Salem Civic Center, following two other stops in the Commonwealth. The time has not been determined.

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