RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — More than 4,000 delegates to Virginia’s Republican Convention are about to settle a contentious housekeeping issue.

They have to decide whether to stick with their decision a year ago to pick their nominee for governor next year in an open primary election or a closed convention.

Friday’s vote in Richmond is also an early contest between the two Republicans seeking the nomination — Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.

Cuccinelli’s conservative backers prefer a convention to screen independents or even Democrats out of the process. Virginia doesn’t register voters by party.

Bolling and his supporters — including Gov. Bob McDonnell — support a primary. They note that among those a convention excludes are deployed active duty military.

This year’s convention starts at 10 a.m.

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