The state's two Republican Sens. George Allen and John W. Warner were on opposite sides [of last week's filibuster debate], with Mr. Allen opposing the compromise and Mr. Warner being a key player in brokering the deal.Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore shares Mr. Allen's point of view and disagreed with the compromise, spokesman Tim Murtaugh said.
"Jerry Kilgore thinks that all of the nominees should get the same fair treatment, which is an up-or-down vote," Mr. Murtaugh said, adding that Mr. Kilgore is glad some nominees will get such a vote. "They all should be afforded the same fairness."
State Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr., Winchester Republican running for governor as an independent, said he considers Mr. Warner a friend and a great political role model.
"They were staring down into a deep, deep canyon," Mr. Potts said. "Thank goodness John Warner, a true statesman, saved and preserved the great institution of the U.S. Senate. Reason and common sense prevailed."
Mr. Potts added that he thinks Mr. Warner speaks for "mainstream Virginia," and that governance must come from the middle.
"What happened [with the compromise] is good news for America and bad news for Jerry Kilgore and the company he keeps."
Well, that's certainly an interesting way for Jerry Kilgore to try to court John Warner, by dissing his hard work in avoiding a "nuclear option" in the U.S. Senate. On the other hand, it certainly shows Kilgore's true colors, as someone who doesn't believe in compromise, even at the cost of national unity, democracy, or the constitution.
In contrast, Russ Potts seems to be taking a much more intelligent, reasonable, mature approach. Maybe that's why the Kilgore campaign is so hysterical about Russ Potts' candidacy as an "independent Republican?" Because they know that Potts makes them look like a bunch of extremists?
By the way, former Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball coach, John Thompson, is apparently supporting Potts, not Kilgore. Perhaps it shouldn't be too surprising that the Hall of Fame coach is backing the gubernatorial candidate who was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame last year. Now, if we can just get Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer to endorse Tim Kaine... :)