Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry fail to qualify for Virginia primary ballot

The Virginia primary ballot, scheduled for March 2012, could be missing two of the Republican party’s biggest names: both Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry are said to have failed to amass enough support to make it onto the list.

The Republican party of Virginia has confirmed that the two candidates did not get the required 10,000 registered voters’ signatures in time for a key deadline. There are claims that both candidates could appeal the decision, although it remains to be seen whether there is any leeway for the decision to be changed.

Rick Perry is pretty much out of the race, but Newt Gingrich still has a chance and his absence from Virginia would damaging to his campaign if he has not wrapped up the GOP’s nomination by that point.