Person of the Week: Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling

By J.R. | March 25, 2008
Filed Under Campaigns and Elections, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Person of the Week, Republicans |

It should come as no particular surprise that this week’s “winner” is Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling. His decision to seek re-election in 2009 and not pursue the Republican nomination for governor avoids a drawn-out campaign between him and Attorney General Bob McDonnell in the midst of the 2008 campaign for federal offices.

Now Republicans (hopefully unified behind the ticket of McDonnell-Bolling) can rally behind whomever the Republican U.S. Senate nominee will be and focus on winning seats for the GOP in congressional races. If McDonnell and Bolling have their way, the U.S. Senate candidate will be former Gov. Jim Gilmore, whom they endorsed recently.

Bolling’s decision had to be a very difficult one, but if this ticket wins next year, it does set up some very interesting scenarios down the road. Will Bolling challenge Webb in 2012? Or, perhaps, will McDonnell challenge Webb in 2012, vacating the seat for Bolling?

Regardless, this was a brave move by Bolling because he was certain to have a great deal of support going into next year: it was going to be a very tough decision for Republicans to pick between McDonnell and Bolling. He’s also brave because the winds of politics can certainly be fickle and shift when you least expect it; while he has popularity now with conservatives, it’s a long time between now and Nov. 2009. And there is at least one more General Assembly session to go before the nomination is formalized. For the next year and a half, Democrats have a target and every move of this ticket will be scrutinized.

But he obviously prayed and made his decision for all the right reasons. And, for that alone, he is the person of the week.