Paul Harris back in the AG field
By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger
Former Albemarle County Republican Del. Paul Harris is rescinding his “I am not a candidate in 2009” stance of March 10.
Now that Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling are running together as a GOP team for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, Harris is back in the mix as one of four top Republican potential candidates as their running mate for attorney general.
The closest to an official candidacy is Sen. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax County, who told a group in Charlottesville last weekend that he is close to announcing his bid.
The other three names are those of Harris, Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, and the Albemarle County Republican who followed Harris in the House seat from Albemarle: Del. Rob Bell.
Cuccinelli has some strong early support on the right side of the party.
Bell and Harris have to sort things out soon, much sooner than usual, and Obenshain is being urged by some to run but has not yet made a firm decision.
Harris said today, “I want to talk to a few people and make a decision in the next six weeks.”
That’s a switch from his conversation on March 10, when the Manassas resident sent the following message to friends describing his decision:
“Dear Friend,
After much prayer and meditation, I have decided not to be a candidate for public office in 2009. Over the past several months I have been called upon by party activists and leaders to consider seeking public office again next year. Indeed, I have been humbled by the many words of encouragement and support from good Republicans (and a few Democrats) from all regions of the Commonwealth. But now is not the time.”
Harris went on to explain his reasoning, but things change in politics, as in life.
Just a slight correction: Cuccinelli was speaking to members of the Republican Liberty Caucus in Spotsylvania last weekend, not in Charlottesville. (That may not have been clear in my original blogpost that told the story and provided the video.)
Those interested in seeing his complete speech, including his remarks about his potential run for Attorney General, can look here:
http://ricksincerethoughts.blogspot.com/2008/03/ken-cuccinelli-addresses-republican.html
Harris discussed his interest in the race for attorney general in this statement he released on Tuesday, April 1:
“I am carefully considering whether to enter the race for Virginia attorney general in 2009. I am consulting with Republican Party and conservative leaders around the state. I continue to receive strong encouragement to run for attorney general from prominent Republican leaders, former colleagues from the Justice department, former constituents from the 58th House District, and from citizens in every region of this great Commonwealth.
However, I know that there is more than a mere political dimension to responsible public service. Thirty years ago, as a young boy being raised by a single parent in a public housing tenement in Charlottesville, circumstances were such that I hardly could have imagined that one day I would be considered a worthy candidate for the position of Virginia attorney general. I believe America is the land of the possible, for everyone, and that there is no higher calling on earth than to serve others.
In the weeks ahead, as I weigh the decision whether to run for attorney general, I will continue to reflect upon two important life lessons that my mother said should always guide my life: be true to yourself and always give back. I will make a decision whether to run for attorney general by early May of 2008.”
In a separate development, Obenshain has endorsed Cuccinelli, his Senate colleague, for attorney general this year and has ruled out running himself.
I am told by reliable Republican sources that the separate development of Obenshain endorsing Cuccinelli and ruling out a run for himself has not really happened, at least not yet.
It turns out that some Republicans are still courting an Obenshain bid and that he is still considering a bid for attorney general.
News is not static on the AG front, the last movable piece of the 2009 GOP statewide ticket with pieces one and two pretty firmly in place and three very much in play.
Two other Republicans whose names might be included in the AG mix are John Brownlee, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke, and Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Mechanicsville.
Del. Steve Shannon, D-Vienna, is the most active Democrat in pursuit of the Democratic Party’s AG nod. Shannon showed up in Charlottesville on a recent Saturday for the city Democratic Party’s pasta dinner.