Perhaps buoyed by the success of his fellow Dems in Virginia, Terry McAuliffe announced to supporters that he would run for governor of the state.
McAuliffe -- a veteran political adviser and former chair of the Democratic National Committee -- has long been mulling a run for governor, but said he would only enter the race if Senator Mark Warner decided not to run.
McAuliffe’s decision, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that Warner won’t run. If fact, since Election Day, rumors have only heightened about Warner -- a former Virginia governor and current U.S. senator -- entering the race.
On Wednesday, NBC 12’s Ryan Nobles confirmed that Warner was indeed considering a run for governor and plans to make a final decision around Thanksgiving.
The Post reports that Warner gave McAuliffe the go-ahead to run anyway, saying “Don’t wait on my decision. Do what you want to do.”
Warner’s Senate term doesn’t end until November 2014, but the gubernatorial race is in November 2013. So if he run and wins, he will leave his seat early. In Virginia, the sitting governor fills a vacant Senate seat by appointment -- and Gov. McDonnell would almost certainly appoint a Republican to finish up the remainder of the term.
But there is definitely appeal for Warner in the governor’s mansion, a position which he held from 2002-2006. Warner has publicly said that Senate's inability to get things done there sometimes frustrates him. Furthermore, if he did enter the race, he would automatically be the frontrunner.
Lt Gov. Bill Bolling and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli are still battling for the GOP nomination, but a September Washington Post poll showed that Warner could handily take down either one of them.
According to the poll, nearly 30 percent of Virginia voters said they would definitely vote for Warner and 22 percent would rule him out. In comparison, 12 percent said they would vote for Cuccinelli and 41 percent said they would vote against him; 7 percent said they would vote for Bolling, and 30 percent said they would vote against him.
Warner also significantly outpolled McAuliffe.
McAuliffe ran for governor in 2009, but lost the Democratic primary to State Sen. Creigh Deeds, who later lost the race to now Gov. Bob McDonnell.
There is one heavyweight urging Warner to not run: his good friend Senator-Elect Tim Kaine. In his post-election presser, Kaine said he “hopes Warner isn’t going anywhere.”
IN OTHER NEWS:
* The real breakout star of the Virginia Senate race: Hank the Cat, the third-place finisher in the race most commonly (and erroneously!) referred to as the race between Tim Kaine and George Allen.
* Same-sex marriages in Maryland won’t become official until Jan. 4.
* It’s official: Virgil Goode did not lose Virginia for Romney.
* Gray says the D.C. Council didn’t understand the rejected angel investor proposal.
* How did unknown Calvin Gurley get 57,000 votes against Phil Mendelson? Easy: He just campaigned hard.
* Will Puerto Rico or D.C. become the 51st state?
* Darrell Issa and Eleanor Holmes Norton ask for a study on revising D.C.’s Height of Buildings Act of 1910.
* State senator tries again for universal early voting in Virginia.
* Opponents of $80 million Arlington pool cry foul.
