What Do Allen's Remarks At The Advance Tell Us?

By: Ambivalent Mumblings
Published On: 12/3/2006 11:31:20 AM

This is cross-posted on the Bryan J. Scrafford blog.

In a post earlier this week, I discussed an email George Allen sent out to his supporters and questioned whether or not it implied the senator was planning to run for office again in the future. Although there has been much debate over whether or not he could recover from such a poorly run reelection bid, Allen's remarks at the Advance have caused the Washington Post to write an article suggesting that we haven't seen the last of the soon to be former senator.

Allen gave no clues to his future in his first public comments since conceding the Senate seat to Democrat James H. Webb two days after the election. But he hinted that he is not finished with public office, promising to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the state's Republican leaders.

"Next month, I will no longer have the responsibility and privilege of serving as your United States senator," he told a ballroom packed with 600 subdued GOP activists gathered for the annual winter meeting and party fundraiser. "But I pledge to keep working with all of you . . . to advance our shared principles, our missions that are so important to the future of Virginia."


Some of Virginia's conservative bloggers appear to be joining the Post in its belief that Allen still has a strong chance of returning to public office. Mason Conservative, for instance, wrote a post which suggested Allen could potentially "bounce back" in 2009 by running for governor. Vivian Paige (who is a Democratic blogger from Norfolk) suggested in a comment that Mason Conservative could be on to something because 2009 is several years away and you never know what will happen. Both Vivian and Mason Conservative are correct. One mishap (like the Macaca incident) could cost someone their political career, but a few productive years could result in a politician returning to the position of his/her party's hero.

That being said, I am standing by my earlier position that "AllenGÇÖs political involvement will be limited to influencing decisions in VirginiaGÇÖs Republican Party for the next few years." If the Republicans are successful in the next two elections, then Allen might have a chance at becoming the party's gubernatorial candidate in 2009. If the Democrats make a significant gain in either the General Assembly or Virginia's Congressional delegation, however, then George Allen's career in public office will end once Jim Webb takes the oath of office next month. Ultimately, that means Allen's future political plans are out of his control and rest upon the fate of the Republican Party.

Bryan Scrafford is the Online Outreach Coordinator for the Morris Meyer for Virginia Delegate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Bryan Scrafford alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Morris Meyer, his advisors, staff, or supporters.

Comments



Allen '09 (drmontoya - 12/3/2006 12:50:28 PM)
He's running for Governor. He's made that perfectly clear.


He's Going to Hide Out (Catzmaw - 12/3/2006 10:07:04 PM)
at McGuire Woods and rebuild his political constituency and connections and emerge fresh as a daisy in 2008 with a pat story about how he was laid low by a vile smear compaign, but is ready once more to serve our Commonwealth as Governor.  We should expect to see him as the Republican candidate unless that's where Bob McDonnell goes.


There is no question Allen will be GOP nominee in '09 (va.walter - 12/5/2006 1:01:48 PM)


Allen 09 (DukieDem - 12/5/2006 8:50:28 PM)
I think Allen's done. He didn't handle the media scrutiny well and his bio for the rest of his career will be "George Allen, son of Hall of Fame football coach, former Governor and Senator, racist"

I don't think he wants to go through another campaign that will pick up its fair share of national media attention (only NJ has an election in 09). I doubt he'll ever be able to get past the allegations of racism. And he'd likely face Warner, who would pretty easily beat Allen now, not to mention 09 as Nova grows in clout. I think he kicks back, counts his money, watches football, and gets involved behind the scenes.