Republicans Choose Convention to Pick '08 Nominee

By: James Martin
Published On: 10/13/2007 12:48:51 PM

At their State Central Committee meeting this morning in Richmond, Virginia Republicans chose to have a convention to nominate their 2008 nominee for U.S. Senate.

This makes it look far less likely that Congressman Tom Davis (husband of the self-proclaimed RINO, Jeannemarie) will get the GOP nomination in 2008.

It's not clear if Davis were to run at the convention and lose, if he could/would still run for re-election to Congress.  We'll see, but for now, this is a major defeat for Tom Davis!!

[UPDATE #1: Given yesterday's Washington Post Poll (Mark Warner 61%-Jim Gilmore 31%) and Gilmore's problems raising money (Warner raised $10 million during his run for President- Gilmore raised $350,000...with only $84,900 from Virginia)- this couldn't be better news for Mark Warner.]

[UPDATE #2 by Lowell:  The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that the vote was 47 to 37 for a convention, not a primary.  Also, "There was speculation that Davis, now, would not seek the nomination, leaving the field to Gilmore."]


Comments



Go Gilmore! (Sui Juris - 10/13/2007 12:55:21 PM)


Davis will not run (Carrington - 10/13/2007 1:39:25 PM)
He has been looking for excuses to jump out and this is sufficient.  A tough race for his house seat is better than a suicide mission for senate.  He's no dummy. 

Gilmore's got enough pride at stake and enough time on his hands that he may read his narrow victory at a convention full of conservative republicans as a sign that "he's back, baby..."

This will be great fun.  Go Gilmore!



Great Job (Too Conservative - 10/13/2007 1:42:49 PM)
James, cite your source next time.

I love how people on this site talk about who will run and who wont with no knowledge of the candidate or staff and no personal relationship to back it up.

Y'all must know that Congressman Davis MUST have realized that he would probably lose this vote.

He was not present at the meeting, but Gilmore was.

Davis will truck on if he wants too, and still has a significant monetary advantage over Gilmore, which he will only continue to have.



"Davis will truck on if he wants too" (Carrington - 10/13/2007 1:49:44 PM)
Um, yes. 

But he'll presumably inform that decision with polls and chances of winning weighed against the comfort of his current seat or a cushy private sector job.

You're right, I have no knowledge of Davis or his staff.  I do, however, have first hand knowledge of rational, calculating politicians.  In making my prediction, I am ascribing to him rationality and an interest in winning/looking good...which thus far seems warranted.

I think his options are pretty clear, and they are not so sweet.



republican options (pvogel - 10/13/2007 2:17:52 PM)
I think his options are pretty clear, and they are not so sweet.

Nobody who is republican has sweet options.
2008 will go down as an historic year.  much like 1939 and 1968



Wonderful News (The Grey Havens - 10/13/2007 2:54:38 PM)
Gilmore:  You raised taxes
Warner:  You bankrupted the Commonwealth.  I cleaned up the disaster you left me.

Gilmore tucks tail and runs away.

Landslide victory for Warner.



Or how about this? (Lowell - 10/13/2007 7:46:33 PM)
Gilmore:  Hey, I drove the state into a fiscal ditch!
Warner:  Hey, I saved the state after Gilmore drove it into the fiscal ditch!
Voter:  Gee, this is a hard choice!


The Anti-Democratic Party (Kindler - 10/13/2007 6:49:25 PM)
So Republicans support spending $2 trillion+ and tens of thousands of casualties to impose "democracy" on other countries, but oppose allowing members of their own party to vote to select their nominees?


Exactly (mikeporter - 10/13/2007 10:46:25 PM)
You just pwnt the Republican's state central committee.