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For anyone even remotely harboring doubts as to whether Bolling intends to run for governor:
“Is there a realistic chance of putting together the support we would need to not just be competitive?” Bolling said. “I’m confident I could get 20-25 percent of the vote. But you’ve got to have 35 percent to win” a three-way race.
“The difference between 25 percent and 35 percent is your ability to raise $10 or $15 million,” added Bolling, who is prohibited by state law from raising campaign cash during the General Assembly session.
Read it all [2].
One of the interesting things to come out of the polling data was that Bolling almost exclusively took from Cuccinelli — and barely made a dent into McAuliffe’s numbers. That’s not a good sign for Bolling as even within Democratic circles, T-Mac is considered to be more of a centrist.
Bolling will need (1) a very radicalized T-Mac, (2) Cuccinelli to make several mistakes, and (3) a veritable revolution within the GOP — perhaps over the transportation bill? — that would peel off the moderate GOP wing and give Bolling a chance to see daylight.
Bolling would have to see several changes in the political environment and a veritable rejection of both major parties by the electorate… not a small task and one well beyond Bolling ability to influence. At this rate, while the numbers look a bit more encouraging for Bolling than previously though, it’s doesn’t appear to be a starting block — more of a ceiling.
Bolling did add that he would not play the role of spoiler, as it was not his style.