Gilmore isn’t a RINO. He was insufficiently pro-life compared to Marshall (btw, everybody is, but Gilmore is one of those really squishy “pro-life” types who believes in abortion for rape and incest; some also fault him for being on the board of a major Virginia drug company because that company makes the morning-after pill — this same issue was used by the Democrats to attack George Allen in 2006).
Gilmore was a relatively successful Governor who is strong on many conservative principles, but who allowed his legacy to be defined by his successor (Warner) and who was also hated by the “moderate” republicans in the state Senate (who might as well have been Democrats for all the help they were the last 8 years).
Marshall was a brighter face, well-known yet somewhat unknown which gave us a better “new direction” factor (which the Democrats have used to their advantage). However, Marshall was really a “slightly” Ron Paulish conservative — he wasn’t enamored of the war in Iraq for example even though he supports keeping the troops in for now, and who is a strong conservationist which some find disturbing even though he also is strong on property rights and would support drilling in ANWR.
I supported Marshall, but will be able to support Gillmore, even though it’s going to be hard to get as much passion into his campaign from the pro-lifers, who propelled Marshall from a late start in the race to within 55 weighted votes.
I would also note that for a couple of months, Marshall was in session at the state house, and was not free to directly raise funds and had a limited time to campaign.
Well, my knee-jerking reaction to Gilmore is due more to the fact that he’s the former head of the RNC- the source of much bone-headedness lately.
Your description of Marshall being sort of Ron Paul-ish maks me like him even more!