Today we get the news from Not Larry Sabato (one of the many progressive blogs out of Virginia), that Tom Davis (R-VA) is going to be #26 House Publican to step down rather than face the rest of eternity in the minority.
A few thoughts about Davis' retirement below the fold.
- Davis' wife lost her seat in the VA State Senate a few months back, after outspending her opponent by $hundreds of thousands, and having her hubbie Tom empty his warchest in a futile attempt to protect her seat. She lost by double digits I believe.
- Dems took back the VA state senate in 2006, and made inroads to taking the State House as well (+4 seats). Davis' seat in NOVA is a BIGTIME pickup opportunity, and the VA Dem bench is deep. This is yet another seat that the Repubs are going to lose in 2008.
- Tom was ridiculed and then spit on by the Virginia Publican party, who chose to have their candidate to get whooped by Mark Warner for the other Warner's senate seat by caucus (instead of a primary), strongly favoring a super right winger over a self-proclaimed moderate like Davis. Davis had been groomed by Warner (R) for years to take the seat. The decision to have a caucus, in order to favor crazy ex-gov. Gilmore, over Davis, was just spit in the eye. Oh, and a guarantee that Warner (D) would win the seat by high double digits (Gilmore is despised by VA for car taxes and other reasons, whereas Warner (D) is beloved).
- Virginia is clearly in play for the Dems in 2008, especially if Barack is the candidate (as evidenced by Gov. Kaine and others endorsing Barack early and often).
Here's hoping the Repubs are left with a House delegation of about 160ish insane rabid freakishly rightwing politicos, whose input will be summarily ignored and scorned while the adults get this country back on track for a change.
Go Virginia!