Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said Monday he will skip the upcoming governor’s race and run for re-election instead, giving his party a sense of unity and placing a roadblock in the way of three ambitious Northern Virginia politicians who had been eyeing his position.
Financial concerns played a large role in the decision that in a matter of hours repaved the political scene for 2009, when Attorney General Bob McDonnell will be the likely Republican nominee.
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The responsibilities of running his Richmond insurance business, and paying for a home mortgage and college tuition made the race too difficult to accept, Bolling said.
“The moment someone prepares for governor they have to be participating in that campaign 24-7. You have to be able to make it the most important thing in your life,” he said. “There’s a very big part of me that wants to run for governor in 2009.”
Bolling informed McDonnell of his decision last week and told party officials Monday.
“The Republican Party will move into the 2009 statewide elections united,” McDonnell said. “I look forward to running next year with Bill as a ticket.”
Political observers had expected long battles in both parties as state Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Brian Moran are expected to campaign for the Democrats’ nomination.
Bolling faced a “very, very uphill battle for the nomination,” said Robert Roberts, political science professor at James Madison University. “It’s not a big deal for him to wait it out and it clears the ground for the attorney general to hit the ground running.”
Bolling is not the only politician now putting off his dreams for higher office. His announcement uprooted a field crowded with Northern Virginia politicians, including Prince William County Board of Supervisors ChairmanCorey Stewart, Del. Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax, and former state Sen. Jay O’Brien, R-Fairfax, who told The Examiner they will defer to Bolling.
“Tonight I’m going to my son’s lacrosse practice instead of a Republican Party event,” O’Brien said. “I’m disappointed because I thought I was going to be a good fit.”
