The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed Republican George Allen in his bid for Virginia’s open U.S. Senate seat, while Democrat Tim Kaine has picked up an endorsement from a credit union trade association.

The FOP announced its support for Allen today at its convention in Fairfax. In a statement issued by his campaign, Allen said:

“It is with tremendous gratitude I accept the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police endorsement in this pivotal U.S. Senate race. This endorsement and this race come down to very different records of results for Virginia families. As Governor I worked with a Democrat-controlled legislature to crack down on criminals, including through the abolition of parole, truth in sentencing and juvenile justice reform. By working together across the aisle, we demonstrated the bipartisan leadership required to accomplish historic reforms for Virginia and make our communities safer places to live, work, invest, shop, and raise our families. This same bipartisan leadership is what we need in Washington today, and I am ready to bring to Washington the voice of law enforcement professionals and hardworking Virginia taxpayers. I am encouraged and grateful for the important support of so many respected, dedicated and heroic police officers in Virginia, and their families. I look forward to working again shoulder to shoulder with the thoughtful FOP to assure we support law officers and to improve security in our neighborhoods and schools.”

The Virginia Credit Union League, the trade association for the state’s 184 not-for-profit credit unions, announced its endorsement of Kaine today. The organization had endorsed Allen in 2006, when Allen lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jim Webb.

“Decisions made in Washington have a direct impact on credit unions’ ability to provide affordable financial services to their member-owners,” said Rick Pillow, president of the Virginia Credit Union League, in a news release. “Gov. Kaine will be an effective partner and understands the difficulty of the legislative and regulatory environment. He is the best choice to help stimulate our economy and get our country back on track.”

In a statement, Kaine said: “I have great respect for credit unions and their ‘people helping people’ philosophy. The economy and the creation of jobs is the central focus of my campaign, and credit unions and other community-based financial institutions will help drive the economic recovery. Washington needs to ensure the nation’s ‘Main Street’ financial institutions can remain strong, innovative and vibrant for the good of working Americans and our communities.”

– Michael Sluss