Virginia Tomorrow

1. Fantasy Cabinetry

Down at the Capitol and Old City Hall it’s almost as popular as McDonnell’s NCAA poll last year ( How could anyone not have put Carolina in the final?) . Everyone’s got the Governor-Elect’s cabinet  and key staff appointees (Chief-of-Staff, Counsel, Policy Director and Communication Director) picked out for him. Or at least they’re taking a more or less educated stab at it. Here’s some questions you’ll have to answer to get it right. Who’s Chief-of-Staff with Bill Mims gone to Hunton and Williams? How many people come over from the AG’s office? Who from McGuireWoods? Which social conserrvatives? Are any legislators coming over to the executive branch? Prominent members of legislative staff? Which Allen and Gilmore appointees will make a reappearance? Will the Cabinet be bipartisan? Will there be a current or former CEO? I’ll buy lunch for whomever gets the most correct.

2. Battleground Virginia

Is already starting to shape up for next year’s congressional races. The GOP has their eyes on Perriello, Nye, Boucher and Connnolly. None of these seats will be easy to claim, but a case can be made why each one could be possibly competitive. And wouldn’t Eric Cantor, House Republican Whip,  love to reclaim a few seats in his home state?

3. Robert Hurt

I heard Robert Hurt, one of the interested candidates for the GOP nod in Tom Perriello’s district, talk at a Sorensen event the other evening. Very Impressive. He’s smart, down-to-earth, communicates well, and is a careful listener. If Hurt obtains the GOP nomination, he’ll be a very strong candidate. Yet we should also recall that Tom Perriello was one of the best campaigners in the 2008 Democratic class. He knows that the composition of the elctorate in 2010 is unlikely to be anywhere near as favorable as 2008. So he’s been working hard in his district, it seems like every week. Just yesterday, the newpaper picture was Perriello reading with kids in a classroom. If Hurt succeeds in obtaining the nomination, the contest with Perriello will be on the national marquee.

4. CNN Puts Cantor in the Presidential Sweepstakes

If you’re looking for a GOP presidential candidate that’s not recycled from previous years, start thinking about Eric Cantor. At least that what’s CNN had to say this week about the House Republican Whip. Cantor told the network “I’m not running for President. But that won’t be enough to stop the speculation. And there’s no reason for Cantor to do so. His national visibility increases. without him having to say anything.

5. Out of State Students and Virginia College Admissions?

Bob McDonnell put the issue on mute during the gubernatorial campaign, stressing the less controversial (albeit expensive) goal of adding 100,000 additional degrees during the next 12 years. But a Saturday Washington Post article noting that more even more out-of-state students were admitted to Virginia’s flagship universities this year could potentially fan the legislative flames again.  Dave Albo, Clay Athey and Tim Hugo led the initiative in the  General Assembly last year. With the addition of more GOP delegates in NOVA last Tuesday, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re hearing about the matter again in January.

6. Specials

It appears that the Democrats will not contest Ken Stolle’s seat in Virginia Beach and will dedicate their entire effort to winning Attorney General-Elect Ken Cuccinelli’s old district in Fairfax. With the prospect of Bob McDonnell possibly enticing a Democratic member of the Senate to join the administration, the election for Cuccinelli’s seat might determine the ultimate balance of powr in the Virginia Senate.

7. Kaine Gets Vote of Confidence from Obama

A week after the debacles in Virginia and New Jersey, presidential Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave Tim Kaine a vote of confidence in his position as DNC Chair, noting that the Governor has “the full support of the President.”  I’m certain that the Governor was grateful for the support, yet the very need for the statement indicates the growing anxiety among Democratss about their prospects in 2010.