Virginia Lt. Gov Bill Bolling is expected to drop out of next year’s gubernatorial race Wednesday morning, leaving Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli with a clear path to the GOP nomination next year, two Virginia Republicans tell POLITICO.
Bolling, now in his second term as lieutenant governor, was widely seen as the underdog against the conservative Cuccinelli, whose supporters engineered a move to change the 2013 nominating process from a primary to a convention. Conservatives typically dominate Virginia GOP conventions.
Bolling was Mitt Romney’s Virginia campaign chair and many in the state assumed the lieutenant governor would get a face-saving appointment in Washington had Romney won the presidency.
But with the move to a convention and Romney’s loss, Bolling appears out of options.
It was “a recognition of how difficult it would be to win the nomination,” said one Virginia Republican source about Bolling’s move.
That’s a real shame. Ken Cuccinelli is an extremist who should not have the opportunity to dishonor the state of Virginia. By tradition, Bill Bolling, an all over good guy, was due to run. He was cheated not once, but twice out of his chance to serve. He was passed over the first time for glam man Bob McDonnell and now a second time for Mr. Uber Republican, an extremist.
The good news is, Virginia should be easy for any Democrat who runs. Cuccinelli has already shown Virginia who he is. They are not impressed. They want a governor who doesn’t bash suggestions of protection of gay students and employees at state schools, climate change, reproductive rights, or recommendations from the state health department.
Virginians also want a governor who doesn’t feel the need to clothe Lady Victory on the state motto, “Sic Semper Tyrannis.”
This was the first thing I heard this morning!! The only upside is like Moon said, a decent Dem could beat Cooch. However, Terri McAuliffe is NOT the answer. He’s a carpetbagger. The Dems MUST find good Virginian to run.
Go Terri!
@Lafayette
I don’t know that most Democrats in Virginia would see McAuliffe’s birthplace as a problem. Northern Virginians and those around Norfolk and Williamsburg are as likely to be transplants as they are to be natives. When this “problem” arose last time and Dems picked Deeds in order to appeal to more natives, he didn’t win. Conservatives (who are generally Republicans) might be the ones more fearful of a non-native.
McAuliffe spent most of his adult life in DC and the Kook spent most of his in Northern Virginia. There’s only the Potomac to separate them physically but a great divide on social issues. Women in Virginia are pissed and the Republicans’ social agenda doesn’t play well.
I just saw Bpob McDonnell on MSNBC. He said he was still supporting Bill Bolling. I think that speaks volumes!!!
@Censored bybvbl
I can’t argue with a thing you said. I know it is *I* with the native problem. 😉 Mr. Lafayette, says by my standards he shouldn’t even be allowed to vote.
Were your ears burning? I just mentioned you and hubby to Moon. We were discussing two(one western end and one midco) neighborhoods in the county that are very similar, yet far apart.
This Virginia woman wants NO part of the R’s social agenda against women.
Yes indeed it does! Cooch just does NOT get it. However, the R’s always vote for R’s no matter who’s running.
I can learn to love Terry. I am neutral to him now. Watch it turn in to love…right before your eyes knowing the alternative.
G-d help us if the Cooch gets any more power.
Cuckoo will get his butt kicked if he is the nominee. These guys learned nothing from the last election.
I heard the rumor that Bolling may drop out of the Republican race and run as an Independent if he can get some money behind him. That would give Virginians a real choice.
Hmm. I just saw this quote from Bolling on the Cooch Watch 2012 FB page.
“I have serious reservations about his ability to effectively and responsibly lead the state, and given those reservations, I could not in good conscience endorse his candidacy for governor.” – Lt. Governor Bill Bolling
If Bolling keeps it up and would turn pro choice, I might vote for him. I am assuming he believes the earth is billions of years old and he thinks contraception is cool and responsible.
Here’s an article from Times-Dispatch.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/bolling-will-not-endorse-cuccinelli/article_3b538d2e-399d-11e2-b86f-0019bb30f31a.html
Another classic quote from Bolling. “I enjoy being lieutenant governor, and under the right circumstances, it’s something I might consider,” Bolling said. “But I just wouldn’t be comfortable running on a statewide ticket with Mr. Cuccinelli.”
Who could blame him. Mr. Bolling is a gentleman.
If I had to choose between Cooch and Bolling for Gov, I’d choose Bolling. If I had to choose someone to run against, I’d choose Cooch.
I can see the ads now……Cuccinelli will have a tough time winning. BTW, there were many to choose from, I just picked three.
“The Repeal Amendment is now a key policy and desired goal by many in the tea party/freedom/liberty movement with Cuccinelli throwing his support behind this effort to amend the U.S. Constitution which would allow two-thirds of the states to repeal any law or regulation of Congress.” [examiner]
Virginia’s Board of Health did an about-face on abortion regulations Friday, voting to impose strict, hospital-style building standards even on existing clinics and reversing its June decision. The reversal came two days after the office of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) sent a letter to board members advising them against grandfathering clinics — and warning that they could be personally liable for legal fees if they were sued after ignoring his legal advice. [Washington Post]
Immigration
During his Senate career, Cuccinelli introduced bills urging the United States Congress to amend the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to revoke citizenship rights for children of illegal immigrants who are born in the U.S.,[90] to allow businesses to sue others that hire undocumented immigrants,[91] and to establish inability to speak English in the workplace as cause for disqualification to receive unemployment benefits.[92]
Watching,
Can we please go in and add that he pulled the protection from gay students and empoyees at state universities that Tim Kaine had in place?
This was against harassment and bullying and discrimination if my memory serves me.
What a loser!!!
Watching had it all along!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030501582.html
Okay, I couldn’t resist, here are a few more topics for ad fodder:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030501582.html
http://www.examiner.com/article/cuccinelli-silver-linings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3nkQYONic
http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/30/cuccinelli-opinion-clarifies-gun-transport-law/
Once again, the Rupublicans are planning to give us an extreme option to vote for. No wonder, even with the most brilliant military minds, the South lost the Civil War. Holding on to a way of life that only benefited the wealthy…..and calling it “honor”. 150 years later and the story is the same!!
Okay, Moon, get after me – 🙂
@Lyssa
I actually agree with you. Building a myth around honor didn’t have a plan to compensate for the fact that there were darn few factories to even build a war machine and that the money was about as useful as Monopoly money.
I HATE the Civil War. There has been no greater waste of American life in our history. That includes Vietnam which makes it quite a statement.
I hate the North and the South because of the 700,000 who died horrible deaths and the many more than that who were maimed.
That doesn’t mean though that the South weren’t my peeps. There is a difference.
I can’t imagine anyone disagreeing that it was a horrible waste of human life and that the South was built on arrogance and far too much hubris. Those brilliant military minds of the South probably just extended the misery. They certainly didnt have much competition from the North. Wars aren’t won by brilliant leaders. Battles are. Wars are won by having enough ammunition and enough food, shoes and clothing to keep your armmy alive. Wars are won by your civilian population having enough to eat and a roof over their heads.
someone find my off button…..please!
Whew!! Waste is the operative word then and now.
I get very emotional over that war. I can’t get past the misery and for what….we still haven’t paid for it all…..As long as this country exists that freaking war will be extracting its toll.
I would like to send the Cooch (running finger down throat) back to NJ and let Chris Christie deal with him.
Should Bolling run as an independent? There is talk of that.
If you think that Cuccinelli will lose….all that will happen with Bolling running as an independent is Cuccinelli will lose bigger. If you think he might win, Cuccinelli will again lose in that scenario.
So its a win win for Democrats.
Maybe, maybe not. Bolling was a pretty popular guy with normal people.
@Moon-howler
But, as you said, this is a purple state. And the conservatives will go with Cuccinelli. Bolling, as much as I like him, is not a strong campaigner. I think that he’s too much of a nice guy. Both breakfasts that I had with him, he came across as a competent politician but not an ideologue or fighter.
Maybe people are tired of ideologues. I’d prefer a collaborator to a fighter.
I meant a fighter as one who would fight for his office.
And I want the collaborators to be on the Democrat side.
@Cargosquid
I dont recall ever saying Virgina was a purple state. I dont recall assigning a color actually.
Bolling is more of a statesman than an extremist firebrand. Unfortunately, as we have seen in the past, the firebrands are who get out the supporters. I have been to the VA R-convention and I expected to see the KKK walk thru the lobby of the convention center when Ollie North was running. Operation Rescue was there– all delgates. the Klan might have been there. I just didnt recognize any of them on sight.
@Moon-howler
Whether it’s the Civil War, Vietnam, whatever war, they usually don’t accomplish anything. Except for WW II, i would argue that they’ve all been a colossal waste of blood and treasure. We “lost” Vietnam after losing a lot of young people and dividing our nation, but what difference did it make? We now have normal relations with them and they’re a trading partner. Would it be different if we’d “won?”
We should bring back the draft and only draft those over 40. I guarantee THAT would end America’s wars!
I don’t disagree with you at all, particularly about Vietnam.