McDonnell-Bolling-Cuccinelli

What a surprise, coming home on my lunch break to find out that Lt. Governor Bill Bolling has decided to run for reelection instead of running for governor.  This is an honorable move by the LG, though I can't help but show a dash of disappointment since I  am a big supporter of his.  As it is, this is great news for the party and one fight that we didn't need now avoided.  Republicans won't forget this act of graciousness by Bolling. 

This sets Republicans up for its strongest ticket in years, both ideologically and geographically.  It sets things up perfectly for Ken Cuccinelli to run for AG representing Northern Virginia.  This is were our deep bench will pull us through.  I think 2009 will be a very important year for Virginia Republicans.  These three all have big-time name recognition, have great resumes, and are reliable conservatives.

Compare this to the Democrats.  Of all the candidates, the strongest is Delegate Steve Shannon who is the presumptive nominee for Attorney General.  A Cuccinelli-Shannon showdown will be fun to watch since both are from Fairfax and, as far as I know, pretty good friends.  Bolling is the immediate favorite for reelection, especially if his opponent is Delegate Kenny Alexander.  Now, if Chap Petersen got the itch, it would be a real fight to watch.  As for governor, McDonnell beat Deeds once (barely, I know, but he still won), and with his good record as AG on gun rights--a wedge issues used against McDonnell three years ago--McDonnell is in a stronger position.  As for Brian Moran?  He's so liberal that he would lose in many of the areas Kaine and Warner won in.  It wouldn't be hard.

Comments

This would be a tough choice for me if Chap got the itch. If only he were a Republican! Can't we convert him? He certainly ran to the right of Jeanne-Marie.

[Daniel]

What about Jay O'Brien? We need Cucinelli in the house. O'Brien is already announced and would be a GREAT AG.

[Daniel]

oh wait nvm, hes running for LG. I wonder if he will bow out due to Bolling?

[mytwocents]

I really like McDonnell but I completely disagree with the general assessment that he will be a strong top of the ticket. This could be a much weaker ticket than Kilgore. I don't think Bolling is the solution either. I think we are making exactly the same mistake we made in 05. We are rewarding a guy for making a screw up of monumental proportions. McDonnell screwed up as the top lawyer and head cheerleader for the transportation solution and he will be another weak top of the ticket in the tradition of Early and Kilgore. Deeds probably mops up McDonnell this time around and who knows what happens with Moran. Where are our principled conservatives who do NOT tax us without representation and have a solid understanding of the constitution? I cannot believe we are about to reward this complete disregard for conservative principles and the Va consitution. Please, I beg you, calling George Allen we need a real conservative like yourself! This transportation fiasco would never have taken place under your sound conservative regime, plus you are solid on the 2nd amendment.

[Anon]

With Bolling staying as LG, McDonnell will find it hard to support Cuccinelli. Bob will want an AG candidate from the west. Look for U.S. Attorney John Brownlee to jump in. He was appointed by Bush in 2001, and has been the top federal prosecutor for almost 1/2 of the state for 7 years.

[mytwocents]

I agree anon, I don't see McDonnell supporting Cuccinelli because he would be the "conservative" standardbearer. That really would not be acceptable for the GOP nominee to be outshined by the AG candidate. For one, Cuccinelli is probably too conservative for McDonnell. Brownlee if he is indeed McDonnell and Bush's puppet candidate will get crushed by Cuccinelli's grassroots crew that is literally second to none. Many more people will help Cuccinelli over McDonnell because he is more in line with the wishes of the conservative grassroots.

[Chris]

I don't think McDonnell would risk infuriating Cuccinelli's conservative backers by openly supporting an upstart opponent. Especially if the Dems are smart and nominate Creigh Deeds.

[mytwocents]

Chris,

I hope you are right but I don't think you realize the animosity right now in the party between McDonnell and some of the conservatives in the party who primarily back Cuccinelli. Many grassroots conservatives, especially outside of NOVA feel completely betrayed by McDonnell over his roll in the transportation fiasco. This could be a real "problem" for McDonnell should Cuccinelli get the nod. I think McDonnell-Bolling-Cuccinelli would get along but I think many of Cuccinelli's closest supporters feel McDonnell is a borderline "liberal" Republican because he essentially supports tax increases through localities. That is why it would not suprise me in the least if his people pushed Brownlee.

[Chris]

Well lets hope that McDonnell takes a lesson from Bolling's actions and do whats best for the party. The best thing McDonnell can do to shore up his right wing is to, at the very least, stay out of Cuccinelli's way. Because John Brownlee will not defeat Ken Cuccinelli. I think McDonnell is smart enough to know, at this moment, not to ruin all the good will Bolling's announcement has created.

[Anon]

Another problem with Cuccinelli is that he is not a prosecutor. If the Dems nominate Steve Shannon, he will get support from law enforcement because of his time as a prosecutor. Cuccinelli couldn't win without law enforcement. Brownlee, who is a solid conservative, would get all law enforcement and the entire west. I also think he grew up in Fairfax County and will play well in NOVA. McDonnell-Bolling-Brownlee

[mytwocents]

Anon, that would not suprise me in the least if McDonnell's people pushed Brownlee to run because they truly dislike Cuccinelli's conservative friends. In the end, Cuccinelli crushes Brownlee in either a primary or convention because of his party support which is most important in a primary.

I can tell you I do believe if McDonnell or his people push this,the conservatives WILL find a credible person to go up against McDonnell as well. Its already not hard to imagine a real strong conservative other than Bolling challenging McDonnell considering his recent mishaps. I believe we will NOT have a unified party in 2009. It could actually be worse than this year with Marshall-Gilmore.

[Anon]

2Cents:

I think you are missing the point. Brownlee offers the whole package. He is just as conservative as Cuccinelli, and he is actually qualified for the job. The GOP has figured out the AG model, and we must nominate a prosecutor to be the state's chief law enforcement officer. (Gilmore, Kilgore, McDonnell) Cuccinelli has never prosecuted anyone. I completely agree that we must have a solid conservative for the AG slot, but we must advance a qualified prosecutor. Brownlee is that and more. We also can't forget the west. If Deeds is the Gov. candidate and we don't have anyone from the west, we could lose the whole thing.

[mytwocents]

anon,

I understand but completely disagree. If Brownlee is pushed by McDonnell, trench warfare will essentially break out within the Republican party. "Conservatives" already do NOT trust McDonnell, and Cuccinelli adds this to the ticket with his strong statewide grassroots support. Brownlee will have none. Cuccinelli's already has a strong network of statewide grassroots supporters including many from the western parts.

Brownlee may be big stuff within the legal community but that does NOT win conventions or inter-party primaries when your opponent in this case Cuccinelli already has the strongest grassroots conservative base of anyone including McDonnell. If McDonnell pushes anyone to go against Cuccinelli I guarantee you McDonnell will have a strong, credible conservative challenge to his own candidacy.

[Anon]

Well, I guess we will just have to wait and see. My guess is that Brownlee will run and win. Without any credible challenger and Bolling's endorsement, McDonnell will start planning for the general election and not the convention/primary. Bolling's support for McDonnell eliminates any threat of a credible challenger against McDonnell. Having an experienced conservative prosecutor like Brownlee covering his wing from the west, McDonnell walks into the Governor's mansion. The last thing McDonnell wants is an AG candidate who can't get the support of the law enforcement community and adds no help from the west. Ken is a good state senator and an important voice for our conservative issues, but he would be a terrible AG candidate. You should read articles about Brownlee. The guy is a straight shooter, Army Ranger, good family guy, and a very popular leader in law enforcement circles.

[mytwocents]

I have been active in Va politics for years and never heard of the guy, sorry Brownlee is way too late to the game. Cuccinelli has the nomination essentially wrapped up with strong grassroots support statewide thats necessary to win the nomination. Maybe he can try in future years.

[Chris]

This anon has to be crazy. John Brownlee? If there was any person out west that could be credible, it would be Terry Kilgore. This is just one of the dumbest arguments. Why would the Republicans not put someone from Northern Virginia on the ticket, after what happened last time? And don't give me this Bob-McDonnell-From-NOVA crap just because he went to high school 30 years ago at Bishop Ireton. His political home and base is Virginia Beach. An authentic conservative and an accomplished lawyer like Cuccinelli will be fine. I don't see why you have to be a prosecutor, its a lame argument. Whoever this is just doesn't want Ken on the ticket and is thinking of crazy ways to try and keep him off.

[Daniel]

We need Cucinelli on this ticket. McDonnell has no recent activity up here in NoVA. Sure he went to my high school, but honestly, i think those of us at Ireton who are involved in politics are the only ones who remember that, not the snubbed NoVA voters.