RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who grudgingly abandoned his quest for the GOP gubernatorial nomination last fall, says he's planning a big announcement next month. What he's planning to say remains a mystery.

Bolling told political journalists at the annual Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association dinner Wednesday night to mark their calendars for March 14.

Bolling quit the Republican race after conservatives loyal to his intraparty rival, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, took a majority of seats on the state GOP's central committee and opted for a closed nominating convention instead of an open primary.

As a guest speaker at Wednesday's dinner, Bolling offered barbed jokes at Cuccinelli's expense.

Bolling has left open the possibility of an independent run for governor against Cuccinelli and Democrat Terry McAuliffe.