Davis Hints He May Pass on 08 Senate Run.
Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R) is hinting that he is unlikely to be a candidate in next year's U.S. Senate race.
As reported this morning by The Hill newspaper, Davis spoke to a breakfast gathering at the National Press Club yesterday. At the event, Davis said he may be inclined to challenge Sen. James Webb in 2012 instead of taking on Democrat Mark R. Warner in 2008 for the seat of retiring Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va).
"There are other races; this isn't the only shot," said Davis, according to The Hill. "You've got a very vulnerable guy sitting there in the other Senate seat right now who may or may not run in four years. And you know what? If you don't go to the Senate, so what? I've been a committee chairman in the House. I've got my portrait hanging on a wall. I've been pretty productive legislatively."
The Hill reported that Davis also said he has qualms about having to face former governor James P. Gilmore III at a GOP convention to decide the nominee. Despite Davis's efforts to lobby for a primary, the Republican State Central Committee voted Saturday to hold a convention in May to select the party's nominee, a move that is widely believed to favor the more conservative Gilmore.
"Our calculation has been that, if you can get everything in line, it's a doable race," The Hill quoted Davis as saying. "But if I have to spend eight months slogging through a party convention, talking to 15,000 Republicans around the state where they're going to ask you how conservative you are, that does not set you up very well for a general election."
By Tim Craig |
October 17, 2007; 11:01 AM ET
| Category:
Election 2008/U.S. Senate
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James Gilmore III
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Thomas M. Davis III
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Tim Craig
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Posted by: Loudoun Voter | October 17, 2007 11:41 AM
Davis Should run for governor in 09'. he has plenty of appeal in northern va but he would have to try and sell himself to the other parts of the state (western and southern va). my feel is he would make for a better candidate then what we have right now (kaine) or any future candidates (Bolling-R, McDonnell-R, Deeds-D and moran-D).
Posted by: unknown | October 17, 2007 1:00 PM
The more you think about this, the more holding off until 2012 seems like a no-brainer for Davis. First, the decision by the VA GOP to go with a convention means the deck would be stacked against him even in the first stage. Second, Warner's poll numbers aren't likely to come down that much over the next year, making him virtually unbeatable in a general election where every GOP candidate will have a stiff wind in his face. Much better to take care of business in his current district (which will be a significant challenge to keep in itself), then wait to face a much weaker incumbent (who wouldn't be there but for Mr. Macaca) in what may be a different political environment in 2012.
Posted by: JJ | October 17, 2007 1:02 PM
Calling downstate Virginia "Alabama," potential Republican Senate candidate Tom Davis made his views of the region crystal clear during a recent conservation with WTOP reporter Mark Plotkin. According to Plotkin, Davis recently said that the Commonwealth is "one-third Northern Virginia and the rest Alabama."
Posted by: Anonymous | October 17, 2007 2:40 PM
alabama! that isnt even in america!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 18, 2007 3:08 PM
Davis may be able to improve his chances in 2012 if he establishes a conservative record. Not sure why he isn't satisfied with his current job.
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Posted by: House appartament | December 18, 2007 1:19 AM
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VA GOP would probably be just as happy having Gilmore -- a has-been -- run against Warner and get crushed than have the still-viable Davis run and lose.