I wrote a couple of months ago that it looked like Governor Warner was going to skip challenging George Allen in 2006 and shoot the moon for the Presidency instead.
We still have not had a declarative statement either way from Governor Warner, but all indications from his top fundraisers are that he will make the leap.
I was told earlier today by a Warner advisor that the Governor really thinks he has a shot especially if Alabama goes the Saturday after New Hampshire as their legislature is proposing. The Warner camp speculates it then needs to do well in Iowa and take Alabama and South Carolina to gain momentum while ignoring New Hampshire.
That of course still leaves Virginia Democrats without a potential nominee to run against Allen.
I beg everyone here in the blogosphere again that we must start amping up the pressure on the State Party in Richmond and Governor Warner to find us a nominee and get them started on some fundraising.
We have a bad if not non-existent bench in Virginia and after 2006 there is potentially and open seat in 2008 if John Warner finally retires.
I ask that we get a solid candidate this time around so even if they cannot win they might be able to take an open seat in 2008.
I think we Dems are going to really have to pile on the State Party to get the ball rolling because if Warner does not run in 2006 a candidate needs to get started yesterday if they want a prayer of being competitive with Allen.
The question is who?