The special election for AG-Elect Ken Cuccinelli’s seat is becoming more important.
Senator Edd Houck told the Post’s Roz Helderman today that he would consider a job offer, if one was tendered, in the McDonnell administration.
If the GOP can hold Cuccinelli’s seat (assuming that it also holds Stolle’s seat) , it would need only one defector or one Democrat who sits in an essentially Republican district to accept a job offer in the new administration to alter the balance of power in the Senate.
Houck’s remark to Helderman will provoke the following actions.
A full-scale press from his fellow Democrats to persuade him to remain in the chamber.
The initiation of backdoor communications with the McDonnell administration by any other Democrat in the Senate who would like to entertain a job offer.
Roz Helderman seems to be the Joe Lieberman of the Virginia Senate, courted by both parties.
Virginia Democrats, alert to what might be the turning political tide in the state, appear disposed to work with Bob McDonnell rather than to thwart him.