On Wednesday, President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney will meet for the first of three campaign debates.

On Thursday, Romney and running mate Paul Ryan will be back in the battleground state of Virginia for a rally in the Shenandoah Valley.

Romney and Ryan will hold a rally at Augusta Expoland in Fishersville, according to the Romney campaign. Country music performer Trace Adkins will be a special guest. For ticket information, visit www.mittromney.com/states/virginia.

Obama also will campaign in Virginia this week, holding a Friday event in Fairfax County. Details have not been released.

Romney will not be the first presidential candidate to come to Virginia the day after the opening campaign debate. In 2008, Obama and running mate Joe Biden appeared at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, where a large crowd endured a thunderstorm waiting for a rally that started two hours late. That was one day after Obama’s first debate with Republican John McCain.

– Michael Sluss