The Virginia Republican State Central Committee has just voted
to hold a nominating convention instead of a primary to determine who will be their 2008 Senate candidate against wildly popular former Gov. Mark Warner in the race to succeed retiring Republican Senator John Warner (no relation). The move is seen as benefited former Gov. Jim Gilmore, the more conservative candidate, over Northern Virginia Rep. Tom Davis, Warner's preferred successor and a moderate. Though I thought Gilmore would still have the advantage in a primary, a convention merely enhances the benefit he gets from being the bona fide conservative in the race. Which I'm perfectly content with, as Warner will thrash Gilmore in the general. Davis, at least, would have put up a live fight. (Of course, the real question on everybody's mind is how this impacts Peter Pace.)
But, being too young to have really lived in the days of contested floor fights (outside The West Wing), I'm just excited to see one in my own backyard. It's like a political junkie's dream come true!
Showing posts with label Jim Gilmore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Gilmore. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Second Wave
With former Governor Mark Warner running in Virginia and former Governor Jeannie Shaheen stepping into the race in New Hampshire, the Democrats' already strong senate playing field just got even better. Shaheen already has a 16 point poll advantage over the incumbent John Sununu, who beat her by a bare couple thousand points in the 2002 Republican wave year (with the help of a few felonies by New Hampshire GOP operatives), and the state is trending blue. This one leans hard Democrat.
Virginia is a tougher case, but there is reason to be optimistic. For one, Mark Warner is wildly popular there. For two, the Democrats have the momentum in the commonwealth, winning the last three major state-wide races. And Warner benefits from a contested GOP primary, pitting moderate Rep. Tom Davis (Senator John Warner's preferred replacement) against former governor and presidential candidate James Gilmore. Davis is the much stronger candidate, both because he's more mainstream, and, more importantly, he wasn't an utter disaster as governor like virtually everybody recognizes Gilmore was. But in a GOP primary in a southern state, Gilmore is a very viable candidate. If he's the nominee, Warner should win handily--he was better and more popular at the same job Gilmore had. If Davis gets the nod, the race becomes more interesting.
Virginia is a tougher case, but there is reason to be optimistic. For one, Mark Warner is wildly popular there. For two, the Democrats have the momentum in the commonwealth, winning the last three major state-wide races. And Warner benefits from a contested GOP primary, pitting moderate Rep. Tom Davis (Senator John Warner's preferred replacement) against former governor and presidential candidate James Gilmore. Davis is the much stronger candidate, both because he's more mainstream, and, more importantly, he wasn't an utter disaster as governor like virtually everybody recognizes Gilmore was. But in a GOP primary in a southern state, Gilmore is a very viable candidate. If he's the nominee, Warner should win handily--he was better and more popular at the same job Gilmore had. If Davis gets the nod, the race becomes more interesting.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Gilmore Leaves the Race
Republican candidate and former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore has announced he is dropping out of the contest for the 2008 Presidential election. Lagging far behind in fundraising and popular support, Gilmore lashed out at the nomination schedule that he blamed for the demise of his candidacy:
That might be true (though I wonder how it explains Senator Obama). But running a successful presidential campaign also requires a candidate who has more to his name than spending one term as a governor where there is a near-universal consensus he crashed his state into oblivion. Gilmore's Virginia legacy was to send the state into near bankruptcy and catalyze its move from solid red to purple (which is why the two subsequent governors after he left have both been Democrats). Don't get me wrong--us Donkeys appreciate the help. But it's not a complete mystery why Republican voters might have been less than enthused about Gilmore's candidacy.
UPDATE: Here's the Post's coverage:
A Southern Republican governor with "absolute certainty in his own ideas and beliefs," who refuses to compromise and infuriates his political adversaries?
Gosh, what possibly could have gone wrong?
“I have come to believe that it takes more than a positive vision for our nation’s future to successfully compete for the Presidency,” he said. “I believe that it takes years of preparation to put in place both the political and financial infrastructure to contest what now amounts to a one-day national primary in February.”
That might be true (though I wonder how it explains Senator Obama). But running a successful presidential campaign also requires a candidate who has more to his name than spending one term as a governor where there is a near-universal consensus he crashed his state into oblivion. Gilmore's Virginia legacy was to send the state into near bankruptcy and catalyze its move from solid red to purple (which is why the two subsequent governors after he left have both been Democrats). Don't get me wrong--us Donkeys appreciate the help. But it's not a complete mystery why Republican voters might have been less than enthused about Gilmore's candidacy.
UPDATE: Here's the Post's coverage:
Gilmore's real strength, however, has always been his absolute certainty in his own ideas and beliefs. As governor, the confidence gave him strength while also earning him the enmity of political adversaries who grew frustrated by his unwillingness to compromise.
A Southern Republican governor with "absolute certainty in his own ideas and beliefs," who refuses to compromise and infuriates his political adversaries?
Gosh, what possibly could have gone wrong?
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