State Del. Drake chosen to run for Schrock's seat

Pilotonline ^ | 8/31/04 | SONJA BARISIC AND BOB LEWIS

[wagglebee]

I would have loved to see Bob McDonnell run. But he wants to be attorney general and then governor. For whatever the reason, around here, congressman is a dead-end job, but former governors do really well.

[Clintonfatigued]

"I wish he had announced his retirement back in the spring and cited health reasons or something."

If he had, there could have been a multi-candidate primary possibly won by a RINO. This way, local Republicans were able to winnow the field and come up with the best possilble candidate who wanted the job.

While I agree that Bob McConnell would have been a great candidate, Drake will also do well. Besides, Congress needs more pro-life women.

[Flora McDonald]

"She's going to face a young, bright ex-Marine recently returned from Iraq..."

A couple of months ago I asked that "young, bright" man what he did for a living. He hesitated briefly and then told me he worked in a gas station. Turns out he's a lawyer. Why am I not suprised?

[wagglebee]

There aren't any RINOs around here to speak of. It always would have been Drake, McDonnell or Stolle.

[Corin Stormhands]

Thelma's a good choice. It'll be a fight, but I think she can win. The district should be one of our safe ones.

Loved how the Pilot used yet another opportunity to kick the GOP. I'd like to kick the Pilot...buncha commies...

I know Thelma's husband. I'll have to see how I can help.

[Gabz]

Nobody on the Shore knows her.............but of course we're the red-headed step child of VA anyway......no one really cares about our votes.

All kidding aside - I'll take the word of those of you who know better.

[iceskater]

I had the misfortune to read the Pilot every day while I was on vacation. Good grief, it rivals the Washington Compost for the gold medal in liberal bias.

[Coop]

For whatever the reason, around here, congressman is a dead-end job, but former governors do really well.

George Allen might disagree with you. :-)

[wagglebee]

How do you mean? George Allen left the governor's office and was elected senator, Chuck Robb had done the same thing 16 years ago. Jim Gilmore would have had a good shot at a Bush cabinet post, but he took the blame for losing the Va. and NJ gubernatorial elections in 2001.

Bob McDonnell wants to be AG, then governor and then after that who knows (John Warner will retire eventually), McDonnell had no interest in Schrock's job.

[wagglebee]

I have never really liked Ken Stolle as a person, but until his tax sell-out this spring, I've never really considered him a RINO.

As far as John Warner goes, I'm not sure who the right candidate would be. Do you have any ideas? Maybe Ollie North wants another go at it.

[wagglebee]

Tom Davis is possible. I don't think that Gilmore has a chance, he created a lot of animosity with other Republicans around the state during his last two years in office. Then Bush basically told him to take a hike from the RNC spot; that seemed to me like the end of Gilmore's career. The problem with Gilmore is that he always seemed too abrasive to everyone.

I still think that Bob McDonnell is going to go far, he's young, he's conservative, he has a military background and he is generally a likeable guy.