Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is likely to win a vote of confidence and a full term as head of the Republican Governors Association when the organization meets in Orlando this week to begin prepare for the 2012 campaign.
McDonnell actually took over as RGA chairman in August, when the chairman, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left to run for president. Since then, McDonnell has helped Republicans win two out of four gubernatorial elections and helped Virginia Republicans capture the state Senate, giving the GOP control of Richmond for the first time since 2001.
But 2012 promises a more tumultuous political season with at least 11 contested gubernatorial elections — and the prospect of a 12th if a recall effort materializes against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Nine of the 11 states with governor races also have a U.S. Senate contest and most are considered swing states in President Obama’s reelection bid.
“We have 29 Republican governors right now and we’ve got some real opportunities to pick up a number of other seats,” McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin said. “He will help these candidates in any way they need.”
The RGA will vote Wednesday on whether to allow McDonnell to continue to lead the organization in 2012, though the vote is widely considered a formality.
Republican governors believe McDonnell’s 2009 victory just a year after Obama’s historic win Virginia “set the stage for Republican pick ups in the House” in 2010 and started the tide turning toward the GOP, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said.
The RGA “is going to be very involved in states that are going to be swing states,” Jindal said. “We’re going to be on the offense.”
For McDonnell, that means considerable time spent touring the country, stumping for Republican candidates and raising money for the RGA. He’s already proven an effective fundraiser, pulling in about $3 million in 2010 for state Republicans while helping the RGA break donation records.
“There is more at stake, no question. It’s going to require more resources and an aggressive political operation,” said RGA executive director Phil Cox said. “His principal role is to raise money for the RGA. He will be traveling across the country to do just that.”
