The nation’s eyes are on Virginia to see whether Republican or Democratic candidates prevail in the Nov. 3 election, current and former lawmakers said Friday during the Henry County Republican headquarters grand opening.

That is because Virginia is “right at the back door of Washington,” said Del. Don Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County.

Whether Republicans or Democrats have the most lawmakers in Washington and Richmond will affect the outcomes of federal and state issues, they said.

Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, said that 55 of the 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are filled by Republicans.

Political district lines will be redrawn based on results of the 2010 census, Marshall said, and “whoever’s in control will redraw those lines.” The districts they create will affect Virginia politics for the next 10 years, he said.

“If the House of Delegates goes Democratic, we’re going to see a big liberal shift” in the House, said former 5th District congressman Virgil Goode.

“The House of Delegates really is the last bastion of common sense” in Virginia government, said state Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, a former delegate.

He does not want to see anything change that, he indicated.

Republicans have “got to work hard” before the election to get people to vote for their candidates, Goode said. “We’ve got to have victory” to make sure Republican values prevail to benefit the nation and state, he said.

That includes sending Marshall back to Richmond, Goode said. He said that Democrats are “after Danny Marshall big time” and Marshall needs as many donations of money as he can get “to fend off the ton of money” that the Democrats are spending to try to defeat him.

Marshall is opposed by Seward Anderson of Danville. Merricks is unopposed in his re-election bid.

The county Republican headquarters is in the former Nissan building at 1780 Virginia Ave. near Holiday Shopping Center. About 75 local Republicans attended the grand opening and barbecue dinner.

Hurt, who represented part of Henry County when he was in the House of Delegates, said many people have asked him to consider a run against 5th District U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Albermarle County, in 2012.

He is considering it, he said, noting there are a lot of factors to take into consideration, including his family’s wishes and the fact that “I love being in the state Senate.”

“But I’d love the opportunity to represent Martinsville and Henry County again,” he added.

Goode said he recently has been campaigning for Republican candidates and has not really thought about whether he will run for public office again.

Ed Creed of Claudville, who is running against Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, for the 10th District House of Delegates seat, said economic problems are causing people to be worried about their families’ futures.

“It breaks my heart” to hear their stories, Creed said.

He pledged to be “a voice for everyone” in the district if he is elected.