DCPost Says Cuccinelli WILL Announce For Governor Next Week

Here is the full article from Anita Kumar:

RICHMOND — Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) will reveal his plans next week to run for governor in 2013, according to well-placed Republican sources.

Cuccinelli, a tea party hero who garnered national attention for suing the federal government over the new health-care law, expects to make a formal announcement after the legislative session in the spring, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so they could speak freely about his plans.

For months, the former state senator from Fairfax County had said he was considering running for reelection or against Sen. Mark R. Warner (D) in 2014. But in recent weeks, speculation had turned to a run for governor, possibly setting up a primary race against Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R).

Bolling, a conservative who has campaigned on kitchen-table issues, has the endorsement of Virginia’s popular governor, Robert F. McDonnell (R). In Virginia, governors cannot seek consecutive terms.

In a brief interview Wednesday with The Washington Post, Cuccinelli declined to comment, saying he had not heard the speculation that he would announce his intentions next week. Calls to his political advisers were not returned.

Cuccinelli, easily elected as part of a GOP sweep in 2009, has taken on several controversial issues, leading his opponents to accuse him of using his office to further his political agenda. He sued the federal government over the health-care law, advised colleges that they could not adopt nondiscrimination policies protecting gay people and subpoenaed documents involving a former climate scientist at the University of Virginia.

A Post poll in May showed that 46 percent of respondents said they approved of how Cuccinelli was doing his job; 27 percent disapproved.

Bolling has been a key adviser for McDonnell, serving as the state’s chief jobs-creation officer and stressing the economy, transportation and higher education. A former state senator from Hanover County, he was expected to run for governor in 2009, but he instead ran for reelection as part of a team with McDonnell.

After this month’s elections, Bolling’s part-time job as lieutenant governor job gave his party the majority in the state Senate after the chamber became evenly split between Republican and Democratic legislators.

Bolling is in Florida for the national lieutenant governor’s association this week and could not be reached to comment. Randy Marcus, Bolling’s chief of staff, did not immediately return a call.

Several Democrats have expressed an interest in running for statewide office, but only former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe has told supporters that he will run for governor.

Bolling's camp responds, reported by NBC 12 Richmond's Ryan Nobles:

“Obviously, we don’t know what Ken Cuccinelli’s intentions are.  Lieutenant Governor Bolling has made clear that he intends to run for Governor in 2013 and we hope that Ken will be a part of our ticket.  We think that would be best for the Republican Party.

 ”In 2009 Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling gave the Republican Party a blueprint for victory and it all started with Bill’s willingness to set aside his personal ambition and join with Bob McDonnell to form a united ticket.  That worked well in 2009 and its the right approach in 2013.”

Hol.  E.  Sh*t. 

It's on.

Notice the last paragraph?  Desperation.  Remember, this is just a rumor at this point, but the panic in that statement is amazing.  As if Ken had NOTHING to do with that victory is astounding.

This is the absolute worst thing for Bolling right now.  Yikes.

Comments

[NoVA Scout]

The ambiguity of the last paragraph of the quoted release is that it could be interpreted (if one didn't know the source) as indicating that Bolling should "set aside his personal ambition" yet again, as he already has done twice (once for LG). Poor guy. He really, really, wants to get to the top of the Virginia zigurat, has paid all his dues, stood dutifully in line, has no real options or distinctions in other fields, and these young whippersnappers keep butting in.

[Chris]

He's been out-flanked by two men (for now) with a greater ambition than his, thus more drive.

[Tom]

I wonder if Cuccinelli didn't see an opportunity with Bolling publicly supporting Romney. If there ever was a time to fire up the base its during the presidential primary season. Do you think he is using this as a way to separate Bolling and the conservatives?

[NoVA Scout]

every Republican candidate in Virginia tries to make the other guy look less "conservative" to the point where the term has no real meaning anymore. I need to revive my modest proposal that the RPV auction rights to the term each cycle. They could do it at the advance this week.

[KingCranium]

With McDonnell's active backing, Bolling could make a serious fight out of it, though I think he'd eventually lose. Why not sit down with Cuccinelli and McDonnell and work a deal- his and McDonnell's support in exchange for Cuccinelli's support for his campaign against Warner? There would be other contestants for that seat, too, but none with the depth and breadth of support Cuccinelli enjoys and it would give party loyalists who like both men a chance to support them both. (This assumes that McDonnell doesn't run for Senate if he isn't the VP nominee.)

[Chris]

Don't assume Bob's going to be they ally Bolling expects. Hearing some very interesting machinations going on behind the scenes

[Wow]

The unmitigated panic and desperation from Bolling staffers on Facebook today (nevermind the over-the-top apoplexy from the LG himself) is perhaps the most telling sign of where things stand right now.

Cuccinelli's candidacy isn't even official yet, the ink on the Post story isn't even dry yet, and Bolling's entire staff seems to have already lost their collective minds.

I think we're seeing why McDonnell would have stomped Bolling 4 years ago...

[Nike Free Run]

Don't assume Bob's going to be they ally Bolling expects. Hearing some very interesting machinations going on behind the scenes

[hth]

I'm happy I found this article,its great!