Former Lt. Governor Bill Bolling held his “Burgers for Bill” event this week, not as a fundraiser but more as a private event for key supporters.
Got me to thinking. What if instead of throwing in the towel and crying “No Mas”, he decided to fight for the Republican nomination for Governor.
I remember what bloggers were saying about how Cuccinelli was unbeatable in a convention, and without a primary Bolling was a certain loser.
Hogwash. This month alone Ed Gillespie won a convention and Eric Cantor lost a primary.
Campaigns have a way of turning out in interesting ways. Who predicted that Libertarians would turn on Cuccinelli in the General Election and give their votes that would have made him Governor to gadfly Robert Sarvis?
But imagine the dominos that follow if Bolling took on Ken Cuccinelli.
For one thing, EW Jackson doesn’t get anywhere near the nomination for LG. A convention even half-filled with Bolling supporters are not supporting EW Jackson. Maybe Pete Snyder. Maybe not. But certainly not EW.
I’m sure that just Bolling running for the nomination blocks EW Jackson from lasting very long at all, regardless if Bolling defeated Cuccinelli or not. Bolling’s efforts change the makeup of the convention electorate.
But even if Bolling were to defeat Cuccinelli, look what happens next.
McAuliffe can’t run as a “moderate” – people like Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms and his supporters back Bolling in a heartbeat. McAuliffe doesn’t get Boyd Marcus. Business community splits McAuliffe support. Outside Republican money with folks like Mitt Romney, a guest at this years Burgers for Bill event, comes in for Bolling for Governor.
Democrats can’t run their attacks on Cuccinelli and Jackson. They’re stuck attacking Bolling and Snyder, and it just wouldn’t have worked.
Democrats won by two lousy points in 2013.
Two points, and more I think, that would’ve been easily made up if Bill Bolling decided to fight for the nomination.
Instead, Bolling chose to be a two-time quitter, holding the curtain for Bob McDonnell to win and Ken Cuccinelli to lose, with Jackson losing by double digits, likely costing Republicans the Attorney General’s race that was decided by less than 200 votes.
All while Bolling is left pondering his future like a Southern Mario Cuomo.
If only Bolling had run instead of run away.
