Bob Lewis reports on what has gone from Gilmore’s crass denial, to open season on Bob Marshall, to… well, a tacit concern from former Governor Jim Gilmore that he might not have the horses to win this weekend:
‘We haven’t tried to overpower the opponent. We simply want to win the nomination.’
From blowout to squeaker? Not exactly the same talking points Team Gilmore was parading before reporters a mere three weeks ago, nor is Gilmore’s weak showing what most political pundits expected from a former RNC Chairman:
A closely contested convention and a narrow margin aren’t what Republicans want as they begin their quest to retain the seat of five-term Republican Sen. John W. Warner. Even in Virginia, where Republicans have won 13 of the past 14 White House races, the GOP is sorely burdened by a deeply unpopular Republican president.
“If it’s even vaguely close, Jim Gilmore will look like he’s in even deeper trouble and will raise even less money,” said professor Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “If a former governor can’t put away a gadfly state legislator and do it easily, that’s a very bad signal.”
Gadfly indeed, as Marshall has been taking body blows to Gilmore’s record on amnesty, including a recent endorsement for Marshall from Rep. Tancredo amidst several key endorsements.
So what if Warner has the GOP candidates outraised 8:1? Given the fact that Marshall has done more with his $78K than Gilmore has done with nearly 13 times that amount says all we need to know about Marshall’s effacacy this coming November against Democrat Mark Warner.
This ability to mobilze the conservative grassroots is the key to Republican victory in November. Bolling did it, McDonnell did it, the 2006 Marriage Amendment did it — while failure to mobilize conservatives turns into systematic defeat time after time.
In 1993, Mike Farris bumped off the presumptive nominee at a convention in a huge victory for social conservatives. In an election year when conservatives are looking for a reason to stay involved, a Marshall vs. Warner fight sure looks promising.