Gray Column: A sign of things to come

It didn't take long for our new governor to reach the national spotlight. Turns out Governor Bob McDonnell will be making the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union Address next month.

With such a high profile spot so quickly, you have to wonder is this just the beginning.

You may recall several years ago Virginia Governor Tim Kaine giving the Democrats' response to one of President Bush's State of the Union Addresses.

Shortly thereafter the rumors of a presidential run or at the least possible placement on a presidential ticket began. Those rumors led all the way up to him being considered on then-Senator Obama's presidential ticket.

The same situation could be lining up for Governor McDonnell, the first Republican governor in eight years for Virginia.

If you think that is far fetched for our new governor, let's consider a couple of things.

First Bob McDonnell did what many experts thought impossible a year and a half ago. Barack Obama won Virginia by just over six percentage points. The win was ushered in as a new Democratic majority over the state. Especially with the wins of Senator's Webb and Warner, which could be argued set the stage for President Obama winning the state.

Second, Governor McDonnell received the always coveted independent voter support here in Northern Virginia. We all know that Northern Virginia has become the must-win region for any statewide elections.

Governor McDonnell won Prince William County with 59 percent and traditionally democratic Fairfax County by 51 percent. The only lone reliable Democratic outpost was Arlington County where Governor McDonnell only received 34 percent.

These numbers are critical when considering the importance of suburban voters in districts like Prince William County and Fairfax around the country.

But all of this is a little premature I will admit. Governor McDonnell is yet to win a budget battle, establish economic stability or sign one controversial executive order.

Nonetheless, from a political standpoint, responses to State of the Union addresses tend to set the stage for things to come. They either set the stage by unveiling the opposition party's political platform for the next election, or by unveiling a potential candidate.

Other contenders like former governors Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney or Ron Paul have their circles of support. But the Republican Party is trying desperately to reintroduce the party brand. That means new names, new thinking and new ideas for voters to consider.

If Governor Bob McDonnell is able to keep his bipartisan support, right the economic wrongs of the past year and stay out of overly partisan squabbles, he might very well be what Republicans are looking for in 2012.

Davon Gray works in Washington, D.C., and resides in Woodbridge. Contact him at davongray@verizon.net.