Rep. Tom Davis officially ruled out a Senate bid on Thursday, pointing to the practical difficulties of a bruising convention battle for the Republican nomination and a “formidable” opponent in a general election already expected to favor Democrats.
Davis’ announcement, made at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast in the District, confirms widespread speculation that he would withdraw from what once looked like a promising bid to replace retiring Republican Sen. John Warner in 2008. The 11th District congressman declined to speculate on his future in the House.
The decision sets up a likely contest next year between two former Virginia governors: Democrat Mark Warner and Republican Jim Gilmore.
“Nobody’s unbeatable, but he is formidable,” Davis said of Mark Warner. “He was a popular governor. Mark is a very affable guy, and he’s got a lot of money, and he’s got organization around the state.”
Davis, a leader in the moderate wing of the Republican party, was dealt a blow earlier this month when his party opted to select its Senate nominee through a convention and not a primary.
A convention, political analysts said, would have favored Gilmore by drawing out the most conservative branch of the party. The event’s Richmond venue and rules that give more delegates to faithfully Republican areas would have also undermined the Northern Virginia congressman.
He emphatically said he would endorse the Republican nominee against Mark Warner, but added that he and “a lot of people are concerned” about Gilmore’s ability to win.
In the broad discussion on state and national politics Thursday morning, Davis also warned that Republicans would need to realign themselves nationally to win the presidential election next year, predicting that “what the voters probably don’t want is Bush III.”
“The face of the party will change,” he said. “Right now there is no question we have a very unpopular president, a very unpopular war, voters are in a sour mood.”
In particular, he called for greater focus on trade competitiveness, educational reform, energy independence and the looming retirement of the Baby Boomer generation.
