Its out, Kate Obenshain Griffin is gone as RPV chairman. I blogged last year that Griffen needed to go, and Allen's loss and the continued stiffling of the state party has brought her time to an end. I have nothing against Kate Griffin personally. I think she is a great conservative and a loyal Republican, it just was not working. Rumor has it she is mulling a bid for LG, but I think she could be better served primarying Russ Potts in Winchester.
Who will replace her?
NLS says the favorite is 1st District Chair Russ Moulton
Too Conservative says its "Sources have told me that her replacement might be someone who “has run for high office in Virginia over the last ten years," which means it could be anyone from George Allen to Jay Katzen
Bearing Drift has these names:
Paul Trible
Linwood Cobb
Tucker Watkins
Dave Nutter
John Cosgrove
Jack Rust
I've said I like Rust. My natural preference is for a Northern Virginian, but I want the best person who can recruit correct candidates, raise money, and give real leadership and direction to the party. We need to follow >gasp< the Democratic playbook. We need to nominate candidates right for their area. We need to face it, Bill Bollings won't win in the 37th district. We need a flexible state-wide strategy that understands each area. We can't think that a single GOP agenda can be entirely embraced by every section of the commonwealth. I don't mind primaries to take out real traitors like Russ Potts, but what happened in 2003 in Northern Virginia was so bad we are still trying to recover from it. Hopefully whoever takes over the party operations will understand the need to be flexible in different areas.
There is already a strong, dynamic woman running against Russ Potts--Jill Holtzman Vogel. She's raised a ton of money (over $300k), built up a strong organization with a lot of support, and will be a great candidate, whether or not Potts runs.
Posted by: NoVAConservative | November 13, 2006 at 09:55 PM
Oh yeah, forgot about her. I heard she's not entirely conservative (but does it mater, running agasint Pottsie?)
Posted by: Mason Conservative | November 13, 2006 at 10:10 PM
Ahh...well I think you'll find differently when things heat up...pro-life, pro-marriage, anti-tax...
She's as conservative as they come. It just sounds better when its coming out of her mouth rather than some grumpy guy...
Posted by: NoVAConservative | November 13, 2006 at 10:33 PM
I doubt that it will be Paul Trible. He's building a big new house on the James River in Newport News and seems very happy at CNU.
I would love to see Jack Rust get the job. We should never have lost him.
Someone who has run in the last 10 years? Jim Gilmore comes to mind.
Posted by: Janie | November 13, 2006 at 11:48 PM
Jim Gilmore is ten years behind the times. He is still playing by the pre-Warnerkainewebb playbook. He. Would. Be A. Disaster.
I endorsed Murtaugh, but Rust would be great, too!
Posted by: Mason Conservative | November 14, 2006 at 12:29 AM