Our cousins in monarchial realms say, “The king is dead, long live the king!” As good republicans, American political groupies prefer, “The election is over, may the next one begin.” Here we go.
Who will run for governor in 2013? Will the GOP see a contest between Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli? Will the Democrats have anyone?
Today, let’s talk about Virginia Democrats.
The loss of the entire ticket deprives the party of heirs apparent. Politicians sometimes can win by losing, but landslides doom Steve Shannon and Jody Wagner.
The bench appears vacant, too. Neither Mark Warner nor Jim Webb seems likely to leave the U.S. Senate for the governorship (we would not rule out Warner, but he faces re-election in 2012). The 9th District’s Rick Boucher long has been the most plausible statewide candidate among the commonwealth’s Democratic congressmen. If he were interested, he would have made the move by now.
Shannon was one of the few stars among Democrats in the General Assembly. Central Virginia’s Jennifer McClellan is another. We would like to see her seek statewide office. A bid for lieutenant governor or attorney general should precede a bid for governor, however; McClellan also would be a strong contender for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Perhaps Leslie Byrne — the Democratic version of Marshall Coleman, the GOP’s former perennial — will rise again.
A celebrity or personality might lurk in the wings. Warner, remember, rose from the world of venture capital (and the partisan back rooms) to political glory. He also lost his first race. When he won election as governor, his name already was known.
An anonymous moneybags eager to lavish millions on a Virginia gubernatorial campaign would have to act soon. Terry McAuliffe shot his bolt in this year’s primary. Years have passed since anyone talked of recruiting Sam Huff into politics. A campaign by hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin would re-energize the birthers.
This is our first discussion of the 2013 election, forgive us our sins. Our repentance is our promise not to run another speculative screed at least until 2010.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement