Gilmore Advisers Think Saxman is Bluffing
Advisers to GOP Senate candidate James S. Gilmore III say they don't think Del. Christopher B. Saxman (R-Staunton) will enter the race for the nomination.
As Gilmore announced his candidacy yesterday, Saxman was conducting media interviews to say he is seriously considering entering the race. Saxman argues the party needs a fresh face to go against former governor Mark R. Warner, the likely Democratic nominee.
But Dick Leggitt, a senior Gilmore adviser, said he thinks Saxman is bluffing.
"He is just trying to raise his name ID because he wants to run for lieutenant governor" in 2009, Leggitt said. "We talked to 20 legislators in the last day and we can't find anyone who says anything other than this is Gilmore's nomination."
Leggitt said Saxman is playing a game of "hey, look at me." He called Saxman "a nice guy, but not a serious candidate."
Saxman was not immediately available for comment.
Leggitt stresses the Republican Party cannot afford a divisive fight for the nomination or the nominee would likely lose to Warner. "We've got to unite this party to win," Leggitt said. "We've got to get all the Republicans pulling the plow in the same direction and we don't underestimate how difficult that will be."
Leggitt said the threat of a Saxman candidacy is actually helping Gilmore's campaign get off the ground. "We have been flooded with calls from people we didn't expect to hear from this early saying, 'We want to help. What can we do'?"
By Tim Craig |
November 20, 2007; 5:23 PM ET
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Election 2009
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James Gilmore III
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Posted by: A Prince William Republican | November 21, 2007 8:52 AM
Leggitt's comments that they've been flooded with calls looking to help the Gilmore campaign is probably as accurate as his statement on poll numbers in the Colorado governor's race. Saxman is an outstanding alternative.
Posted by: notpaulnardo | November 21, 2007 10:40 AM
Gilmore is in big t-r-o-u-b-l-e and he knows it and is sending his spinmasters out. Gilmore is absolutely arrogent enough to think he should be the only candidate. Gilmore is scared of both Marshall and Saxman because they will take away his core constituency. The grassroots Republicans cannot stand what is happening right now. Gilmore is not exectly liked right now in many GOP circles.
Posted by: a nova republican | November 23, 2007 9:53 AM
In talking to Republicans, about 25% of them are excited about Gilmore. Many more have said they'll just sit this one out if Gilmore is the nominee. Further, his money supply will be dry. No one except the far-far right wing will get excited about that clown.
It's going to be a difficult slog for Gilmore and he should expect the same amount of success as he had in his Presidential bid.
Posted by: Not Brian Moran | November 27, 2007 3:17 PM
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I would say two of Mr. Leggitt's comments strike me as extraordinarily naive:
1. While agreeing the party can't afford a divisive fight for the nomination- why does it have to be divisive? Let's not put the other guy (really, the potential other guy) down and say that he's just bluffing, that he's not a serious person, that he's just a nice guy.
2. To say that calls for help are coming "this early" is a little strange, too. Early? It's late already if you are planning on "getting all the Republicans pulling the plow in the same direction."
Nobody should have the lock on the nomination or feel entitled to it.