Exclamation points seem to be in vogue nowadays. From yesterday’s Washington Post:
The PAC does not yet have a Web site or staff, but its first two fundraisers are in the works for Dec. 7 in Northern Virginia and Dec. 10 in Richmond. Details, including locations and ticket prices, had not been determined.
Gillespie is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and counselor to President George W. Bush. He nearly unseated U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) last year in a closer-than-expected race, winning him fans across what at times has been a deeply fractured state party. He has further endeared himself to party activists by vigorously campaigning in recent elections for Republican candidates — up and down the ballot and all across the state.
This comes on the heels of exploratory bids for Governor Lite from Delegate Scott Taylor, and long rumored bids from State Senator Bryce Reeves and Disruptor Fund chairman Pete Snyder… on top of about 20 other rumored names for downballot statewide races.
Gillespie still remains firmly in the lead as the only announced gubernatorial candidate. Other honorable mentions so far include State Senator Tom Garrett, Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01), and the long-rumored trio of populist darlings for a GOV/LG/AG ticket (more later… unless some lower rung blog decides to blab about it first).
Still, the PAC is a welcome step forward that raises the bar in more than one area. Fundraising is important, to be sure, as a gubernatorial run in Virginia can run well north of $30 million — more than any U.S. Senate run, to be sure.
Let’s Grow Virginia! PAC also raises the bar in three other critical departments: statewide grassroots operations, top office professionalism, and logistics… even if the name is wonky, you’re not going to forget it.
