God bless Russ Potts (R-Winchester) that's all I have to say. First, he runs for Governor as an Independent against right-wing Republican, Jerry W. Kilgore. That alone sends the state Republican Party and the Kilgore campaign into a rage, charging that Potts "strayed from the Republican Party a long time ago" and that he "has been critical of and hostile to the policies and agendas of President George W. Bush, U.S. Senator George Allen, then-Governor Jim Gilmore," etc. Next, Potts lays into Kilgore, charging that Kilgore "has no transportation plan, no education plan," and that Kilgore "would be the most horrible governor in my lifetime." Excellent!
Then, Potts survives a GOP attempt to exact revenge - an attempt to remove him as chairman of the powerful Education and Health Committee. In the end, the vindictive Republicans fail, with Potts supported by all Senate Democrats plus Senate president pro tempore, John Chichester (R-Northumberland). Ha.
Most recently, this past Thursday, Potts helps defeat an anti-gay bill. According to the Post:
[Potts] voted with all seven of the Democrats on his committee to kill a bill that would have prohibited both partners in a same-sex couple from being listed on a birth certificate of a child adopted in another state. Their opposition beat out the votes of all seven of the committee's other Republicans.
Not bad for a guy who received only 2.2 percent of the vote for Governor, and who by all rights should be politically dead by now. Instead, Potts is back, working as a moderate, sensible Republican (yes, there are a few of those left in Virginia), and prompting us to reminisce about the gubernatorial campaign's single best commercial: "We Want Potts! We Want Potts!"
As I said, God bless Russ Potts.
[UPDATE: For those who don't recognize the picture, it's from the famous "We want Potts! We want Potts!" commercial. Basically, it was a bunch of people banging on pots and...ah, forget it, if you haven't seen it, I can't explain it! :)]