Their views on topics ranging from the war in Iraq to the environment vary only slightly.

Their challenge in the 25 days ahead, therefore, will be to sort out their differences, to explain them to a far flung and diverse group of voters in a district that reaches from Warrenton to Hampton, and to convince voters to head to the polls in the middle of the holiday season.

Del. Rob Wittman has the apparent advantage in a district that has traditionally voted Republican, but he isn't taking that for granted.

A state employee for the Division of Shellfish Sanitation, he has worked his way through the local political arena, starting on town council and as the mayor of Montross. He served on the Westmoreland board of supervisors for more than 10 years and was chairman for two years until he resigned to become the District 99 delegate in 2006.

“I have practical experience, which is what we need in Washington, and a strong record of getting things done,” he said.

Philip Forgit doesn't have Wittman's political experience, but he does boast a military background, which could prove equally important in a district populated largely by military personnel and retirees.

Forgit was deployed to Iraq as a naval reservist in 2005, serving with a special warfare unit to the Iraqi Army for two years. While there, he was awarded a Bronze Star.

Prior to his deployment, Forgit was a fourth-grade teacher and he says he is still, first and foremost, a teacher.

While in Iraq he won a national award for teaching excellence from the National Education Association. Upon his return, he used the $35,000 prize money to establish an independent film company, and he has plans to return to Iraq to film a documentary about Iraqi soldiers and their families.

Both candidates cite illegal immigration, the war in Iraq and the Chesapeake Bay as key issues in the First District.

On immigration, Wittman said he believes in strengthening control at the borders while placing emphasis on the nation's existing immigration laws, “without creating bad situations for the large number of immigrants who are already here.”

“We are a country of immigrants,” he said. “We need to look at how we've done things in the past and find a more efficient way to process requests in the future.”

Wittman also cites transportation as an important issue and says the federal government needs to help foot the bill for traffic control in Virginia.

“The federal government creates many of the traffic problems we have in Virginia and we need to make sure it is covering its fair share,” he said.

As to the war in Iraq, Wittman said, “Regardless of why we are there, it's important that we not leave that country in chaos, to not lose the ground we've gained and to make sure the Iraqi government can maintain security.”

Wittman, 48, lives in Montross with his wife of 25 years, Kathryn. He has two grown children, Devon, who is expecting her first child in a few weeks, and Josh, who works on a menhaden boat in Reedville.

Like Wittman, Forgit identifies himself as a candidate with a practical approach to government.

“People are looking for solutions, not ideology,” Forgit said.

As a teacher and a reservist, Forgit said he has learned discipline, hard work and attention to detail.

Having been deployed to Iraq, he said he has an unusual perspective to bring to Congress.

“Being part of the military gives me unique insight into how that relationship works,” he said.

He does not believe in the immediate withdrawal of troops or timelines, but he does think the government needs an exit strategy.

“We had a strategy going in, and a strategy for stabilization. But we have no exit plan. We need to decide how we are going to ultimately remove ourselves,” he said. “I don't support long-term deployment of our military in Iraq.”

Forgit said the environment is an equally important issue in the First District, “from oysters and soft shells to green space and preserving rural areas”

He said cleaning up the bay should be seen as an opportunity to create jobs for people in the Northern Neck.

Forgit, 40, lives in Williamsburg with his wife, Dawn, who is also a teacher, and their three children Erin, 10, Caleb, 9, and Kathryn, 7.

After last weekend's nominations, both candidates set to work mounting their campaigns, organizing their staff and responding to an unexpected onslaught of phone calls and emails.

Forgit admits that he's facing an uphill battle in a district that's been branded with the letter “R,” and his primary challenge will be to get his message out across a vast region with diverse interests.

“Unlike in a local election, I'm not going to have time to go knocking door to door,” he said.

His ability to raise the money necessary to get his message out in a few short weeks could make or break his campaign, he said.

“We have to struggle against Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping,” Forgit said.

“This election will be all about turnout,” Wittman agreed.