Hot off the presses, Virginia LG Bill Bolling has decided to "suspend" (aka, "end") his candidacy for governor of Virginia in 2013. That leaves one Republican (Virginia AG Ken "The Cooch" Cuccinelli) and one Democrat (Terry McAuliffe) left in the running. For an excellent analysis of what this all means, see former Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Paul Goldman's analysis, entitled "McDonnell at Work: Eyeing 2016, Did He Convince Bolling to Drop Gov Bid?" The bottom line: "Governor McDonnell and Attorney General Cuccinelli hold each other in "maximum low regard," as the saying goes in politics. But do the political math: Both men have a lot to gain, and nothing to lose, by joining in 2013 even if it is a loveless marriage of convenience."
Also, I'd add that this news has big implications not just for 2013, but for 2016, as Bob McDonnell is a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination the next time around - but ONLY if Republicans hold the Virginia governor's mansion in 2013. If not, then McDonnell is spelled "L-O-S-E-R" and that's not going to cut it for him in 2016. As for Ken "Kookinelli," as I call him, the guy's a bat** crazy, right-wing extremist, no doubt, but what makes him super dangerous is that he comes across to many people as normal, a "nice guy," personable, etc. In reality, of course, he's a gay-bashing, climate-science-denying, birtherism-dabbling, Obama-stole-the-election conspiracy theorist nutjob, etc, etc. But will Virginia voters know that? Will the "Obama coalition" turn out to the polls to stop this arch villain from central casting in 2013? Stay tuned, including to Blue Virginia, for more as this story evolves...
P.S. Cuccinelli also claims that Virginia can disobey federal laws it disagrees with, believes the government is tracking his kids via Social Security numbers, and talks to a toy elephant named "Ron".
UPDATE: The Democratic Party of Virginia has issued a statement entitled "Cuccinelli-Akin-Mourdock Politics on the Ballot in 2013."
UPDATE #2: Terry McAuliffe has issued a statement saying, among other things, "It is disappointing that more mainstream Virginia Republicans are being driven out of leadership by the far-right."
UPDATE #3: The Huffington Post claims that "Tom Perriello is reportedly considering a bid for Virginia's governor's seat in 2013, according to sources close to the former Democratic congressman." I'm highly skeptical he really is, but I guess we'll see...