WASHINGTON (AP) - Several Republican presidential hopefuls are saying the state of Virginia should put their names on its March 6 ballot for the GOP primary despite their failure to meet state requirements.

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Earlier this week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry claimed in a lawsuit that Virginia's requirement of 10,000 signatures by registered voters, with 400 from each of its 11 congressional districts, violates his freedom of speech.

On Saturday, lawyers for Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman and Rick Santorum joined Perry in asking the Virginia State Board of Elections and the Republican Party of Virginia to be added to the ballot.

Gingrich told reporters at a campaign stop in Iowa: "This should not be a gauntlet to figure out how you can make it virtually impossible to run for president."