By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger

Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, said today that he will not be seeking the statewide office of attorney general next year.

“Jessica’s pregnant and we just got our test back,” Bell said of his wife. The two already have a young son, Robbie, and now are awaiting a second child.

“That makes it easy,” Bell said. “I’m not going to run.”

The only Republican in the field as an announced attorney general candidate for 2009 is state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax County.

Others examining a GOP bid include Paul Harris, who for four years held the House seat Bell occupies; John Brownlee of Roanoke, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia; Sen. Ryan McDougle of Mechanicsville; and Sen. Mark Obenshain of Harrisonburg.