McDonnell and the '12 veepstakes

Hampton Roads ^ | 11/8/2010 | Julian Walker

[Qbert]

Politico ran a story Monday morning about newly elected Republicans from swing states who may get a look for the GOP's national ticket in two years.

What caught our eye wasn't who made the list, but who it omitted.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a subject of some national speculation since taking office early this year, didn't merit a mention in the article even though his counterpart in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie, did.

The 2009 elections of McDonnell and Christie are viewed by many as the beginning of the Republican resurgence -- following several cycles of Democratic dominance -- evident in last week's elections. And in the wake of those GOP victories, both men saw their names churned in the national political blender.

That's why the exclusion of McDonnell struck us as curious, though we don't imagine the governor's people are fretting about it.

For his part, McDonnell has publicly said he plans to serve out his term, but hasn't completely closed the door to a future on the national stage.

[reasonisfaith]

If Politico is pushing Christie while sweeping McDonnell aside, my first inclination is to give McDonnell serious consideration while looking more skeptically at Christie.

[TitansAFC]

It’s moot. Neither is running.

We already know what the slate of candidates will be, with a few “maybes” in there.

Yes:
Romney
Palin
Gingrich
Huckabee
Thune
Pawlenty
Paul

Maybe:
Barbour
Santorum
Daniels
Pataki
Perry
Johnson
Petraeus
Bolton
Giuliani
Cain

Ruled themselves out:
Christie
DeMint
Thompson
Jindal
McDonnell
Bush
Brown
Huntsman

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

McDonnell’s half-term (inaugurated Jan ‘10) is OK but Palin’s isn’t?

[Qbert]

I’m no Palin basher. I thought it was beyond ridiculous what she had to endure.

[reasonisfaith]

I don’t particularly favor either for president, but I thought the thing was about the vp slot.

[Padams]

The article is about VP, not Pres.

[TitansAFC]

Yup. Veep, not Pres.

Mea Culpa

[Corin Stormhands]

McDonnell is young enough that he can wait to make a national play. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ran for Senate in 2014 against Marky Mark.

But, the one this kind of talk has to be driving crazy has got to be Bill Bolling. Once again he’s a Lt. Governor in a situation where the Governor is being “pushed” for a veep slot. Although it was mostly fabrication by Kaine’s people, Kaine was mentioned quite actively as a possible pick for Obama.

Had Kaine been picked, Bolling would’ve become governor and would’ve been allowed to run as an incumbent - which doesn’t happen in Virginia if you’ve served all four years as governor.

Now, Bob McDonnell is being talked about for veep and Bolling is in the same position.

[EDINVA]

I think she did the right thing personally and for AK to resign, and has actually been far more effective on the national stage as a result.

But there are some differences between the two scenarios. 1) McDonnell could continue his term as governor while a VP candidate; 2) he wouldn’t have to resign unless elected; 3) VA governors can serve only one term; 4)by January 2013, he’D have served 3/4 of his term, not half; 5) if he were on a winning ticket, the public would have seen fit to ‘promote’ him to higher office.

[relee]

Palin was more qualified to be VP than Obama was qualified to be President but Bob McDonnell served in the Army/Reserves for 21 years as well as 14 years in the Virginia House of Delegates and 3 years as Virginia Attorney General before being elected Governor of Virginia.

Yes, McDonnell’s half-term (inaugurated Jan ‘10) is OK.