Ex-RNC chair Ed Gillespie weighs Mark Warner challenge in Virginia

politico.com ^ | 12/7/13 | James Hohmann

[cotton1706]

HOT SPRINGS, Va.—Former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie is considering a run against Virginia Sen. Mark Warner (D) next year.

“It’s a very winnable race,” the powerful GOP insider told POLITICO in a Saturday afternoon interview. Continue Reading

Gillespie, who has never sought public office, floated the trial balloon at The Homestead resort, where about 500 activists and party leaders are gathered for a three-day annual meeting known as “The Advance.”

(PHOTOS: Senators up for election in 2014)

“It’s safe to say that there’s people talking about it here, and I’m listening to them,” he said, noting that nearly three months remain until the the Feb. 1 filing deadline. “I’ve been flattered to have it raised. There’s plenty of time to give it some thought.”

Virginia’s Senate race is currently not seen as competitive, but Gillespie’s entry would all-but-guarantee a real battle and could put the state on the map in 2014. Republicans need to pick up six seats to win the upper champer.

“There’s a sense we have an opportunity in 2014 to win the Virginia Senate race,” he said, “and if you were to do that, that would most likely mean that you would get control of the United States Senate, which makes it a very high-stakes race.”

(Also on POLITICO: GOP men told how to talk to women)

Gillespie, 52, would likely win the nomination if he chose to get in, but he would need to secure it in a convention controlled by activists. Conservatives might force him to answer for the Bush presidency, with an economic record widely criticized from the right, and for his post-White House push for immigration reform.

[Night Hides Not]

We lost too many winnable races because of weak candidates.

Bob Dole

John McCain

Mitt Romney

Hard to argue with your premise, RD.

[1010RD]

Wit, stillborn, is still wit.

I was talking about Senate races and a few House races.

That said, McCain could never have won. Romney’s loss happened on the ground with 4 million white voters staying home. The IRS attack on the TEA Party NFPs was totally effective and Romney didn’t counter it at all. Clinton triangulated Dole to death, besides it was Bob’s turn to run.

Conservatives have to work to end the corporate income tax. That would end the IRS’s attack plan on conservative churches and orgs.