That’s what Steve Shannon has decided to do with two weeks left in the AG’s race.
Shannon’s latest ad focuses on Ken Cuccinelli’s reluctance to call for the resignation of Phil Hamilton, a position that puts the GOP AG nominee at odds with not only all three Democratic aspirants but also with both Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling.
The ad depicts Cuccinelli as an ethical outlier, wedded to old-fashioned cronyism and exhibiting a conscience of convenience, overlooking the transgressions of a political ally.
Shannon appears in the ad not only to provide the required “approval” but also to oberve that as Attorney General he won’t let anyone stand above the law.
It is Shannon’s most powerful ad to date.
It is also Cuccinelli’s most important test.
No AG candidate can allow the suggestion that he might tolerate corruption to stand.
Up to now, Cuccinelli’s major defense against the charge has been to take what I would label the “strict constructionist” approach.
He has argued that it would be wrong for a potential Attorney General , who could be required to make a recommentation about whether Hamilton should be prosecuted, to take a political stance on the matter during the course of a campaign.
This may be part of a good response.
But, politically, I’m not sure it is enough.
Six months ago, many Democrats believed that Cuccinelli’s strong social social conservatism made him unelectable in Virginia. But the GOP candidate was the first to call for a special session to deal with the impact of the Melendez decision on DUI prosecutions, was the aggressor throughout the summer and raised more money in September than any downticket candidate (though he still trails Shannon in cash on hand).
He has been comfortably ahead, as far as I can tell, in almost every poll that has been taken.
But the voters are just beginning to focus on the downticket races and Shannon’s attack holds the potential for altering the contest, especially if Deeds is able to narrow McDonnell’s lead.
But if I know Chris LaCivita, a key strategist for Cucinelli, it is an attack that won’t go unanswered.
Cuccinelli is likely to defend himself and to be even sharper in his assaults on Shannon’s qualifications.
The temperature in this race is going to get a lot hotter in the next few days.
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