A View from the Cheap Seats Blog post by Garren Shipley
Obenshain for AG? Not this time
The Republican nod for Virginia attorney general remains Sen. Ken Cuccinelli's, at least for the time being. Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, announced Tuesday morning that he will not seek the third seat on the GOP's ticket in 2009.
Everything from e-mail graphics to legislative agendas pointed toward an AG run for Obenshain, the two-term senator from the 26th legislative district. But in the end, he decided now is not the time.
From an e-mail announcing his intentions:
To have the opportunity to serve Virginia's
citizens as Attorney General would be a great
honor and privilege. It is a job for which
I feel well suited by my professional
endeavors over the past 21 years and by my
public service. I have been encouraged by
phone calls, e-mails and comments from
friends from across Virginia and for that I
am grateful.
My family is the abiding
consideration for me
in deciding to forego a run at this time. I
have two children in high school, and I am
very proud of them. I understand the
sacrifices my family would have to make in
order for me to seek statewide office at this
time, and they are too great.
Thanks to
one and all for the encouragement
you have provided both for my consideration
of a run for AG, and for my service in the
Senate of Virginia.
With Obenshain out and the top two spots on the ticket set -- Attorney General Bob McDonnell for governor and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling seeking re-election -- the field narrows considerably. Jim Hoeft over at
Bearing Drift has a good breakdown of the situation, while Old Zach at
Sic Semper Tyrannis has info on the other possible contenders.
Regardless of the occupant of the third seat, the GOP ticket looks to be shaping up very early.
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