John McCain yesterday added the endorsement of former Gov. Jim Gilmore three days before Virginia's presidential primary.

Virginia Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd, also planned an announcement in support of McCain on Monday in Virginia Beach.

McCain "is a proven conservative leader with a track record of cutting taxes, eliminating wasteful government spending, upholding our traditional values, and promoting a strong national defense," Gilmore said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.

Gilmore is the front-runner for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination. He and Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, will seek the GOP nomination to run for the seat of retiring Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va.

Gilmore and Drake are the latest Virginia conservatives to ally themselves with McCain since his chief rival for the GOP nomination, Mitt Romney, quit the campaign on Thursday.

Former U.S. Sen. George Allen and Attorney General Bob McDonnell also announced their backing of McCain last week.

-- Andrew Cain