From the American Thinker:
The Virginia GOP snubbed the unwelcome advice of Karl Rove urging Republicans across the country to nominate uninspiring moderates without an agenda.
The Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) will run for November:
Current Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for Governor
Bishop E.W. Jackson for Lieutenant Governor, and
Virginia State Senator Mark Obenshain for Attorney General.
The nomination of African-American, enthusiastically and loudly Christian Bishop E.W. Jackson for lieutenant governor was the biggest surprise. Jackson offers the most intriguing dynamics heading into the 2013 general election. Jackson will not only stir up the Virginia elections but may also challenge Barack Obama nationally. However, Obama shockingly won Virginia in 2012, presumably with Democrats’ new, high-tech voter turn-out systems that may once again be a factor in Virginia in 2013.
Ken Cuccinelli, as a national conservative hero, was unopposed for governor. Current Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling dropped out, possibly contemplating running as an Independent in the mold of Florida’s Charlie Crist in 2010, who realized he could not win against Marco Rubio in the Florida primary. It is widely perceived that Bill Bolling could not compete against Ken Cuccinelli because the nomination was by convention.
For attorney general, Mark Obenshain defeated Rob Bell on the first ballot. Obenshain was elected to the senate of Virginia in 2003, where he quickly became a standard-bearer for conservative policies and a leader on property rights, school choice, family values, and government reform. For twenty-five years Mark practiced law in Harrisonburg and in Central Virginia.
WHAT’s NOT TO LIKE FOR A CONSERVATIVE?
Obama also won in 2008. Once is a shock. Twice is the makings of a trend. Jackson is running in a state that is trending blue. That's not going to help him.