In Bob Novak's weekend column, he predicts that Sen. John Warner (R-VA) will retire rather than seek reelection--no surprise given that John Warner will turn 81 next year, and that ex-Gov. Mark Warner (D), no relation, will not be a candidate to replace him:
With 80-year-old Republican Sen. John Warner not disclosing until late this year whether he will seek a fifth term in 2008, Rep. Tom Davis is building strong statewide support for the GOP nomination if Warner does not run.
Conservative activists are not happy with the prospective nomination of Davis, who has a lifetime 70 percent American Conservative Union voting record compared to Warner's 81 percent. Davis, who represents a Washington suburban district, would be a strong candidate in populous Northern Virginia (carried by Democrats in their recent statewide victories). Former Gov. Jim Gilmore is a more conservative possibility if he gives up his current campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
A footnote: Former Gov. Mark Warner would be the strongest Democratic candidate for the Senate, but insiders believe he may forego that race to keep himself available as Sen. Hillary Clinton's vice presidential running mate.
Interesting! So Mark Warner assumes that Hillary will be the 2008 nominee.
If Mark Warner doesn't run for Senate, who else do we have? What does our Virginia bench look like?