From what I can gather based on info in the story and from what I know of the players and recent moves in VA, the purpose of the action is to boost Scott Walker’s chances.
Walker went to bat for Cuccinelli’s (barely-)failed campaign for Governor (which IMO only failed because of the betrayal of one particular faux-Republican operative in Fairfax County and some very peculiar things that happened in the voting there).
Whitbeck is close to Obenshain, who just became Walker’s state campaign head.
So the chances are very good this is Walker-inspired.