Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican, was happy -- perhaps relieved -- to see former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pull out his first big win of the Republican presidential race last night in Michigan.
“On Tuesday night, Governor Mitt Romney won a decisive victory in the Michigan Republican primary and took an important step toward winning the Republican nomination and November's presidential election," he said in an early morning email to The Times. “Governor Romney’s vision for economic strength in America and conservative change in Washington clearly resonated with voters in Michigan. Governor Romney won among Republicans, conservatives and evangelical voters. However, this is just the beginning and he will take this momentum on to Nevada, South Carolina and Florida."
Mr. Bolling, who is eyeing a 2009 gubernatorial bid, endorsed Romney at a July press conference here in Richmond and serves as chairman of Governor Romney's campaign in Virginia.
In his story today, The Time's Joseph Curl writes that a "A loss would have been devastating -- possibly fatal -- to Mr. Romney, whose father, George W. Romney, was head of American Motors in Detroit and a popular three-term governor in the 1960s. The former governor of Massachusetts pulled all ads from South Carolina and Florida, the next two stops for Republicans, to focus on what his aides quietly said was a must-win."
For Bolling, that would have meant he no longer has a horse in the presidential race, which John Hager, Chairman of the Republican party of Virginia, suggested last week could still have no clear frontrunner when The Commonwealth's voters head to the polls on Feb. 12.
The scenario would make Virginia's 63 delegates all the more important.
“Clearly, there is a long road until the Republican nomination is settled," Bolling said. "I look forward to working with my fellow Republicans to build on Governor Romney’s strong organization in the Commonwealth and ensure a victory in the Virginia primary on February 12th.”
Should Virginia play a real role in the race, it would pit the state's top Republicans against one another.
Retiring Virginia Sen. John W. Warner and 11th District Congressman Tom Davis support Arizona Sen. John McCain.
House Speaker William J. Howell, a Republican, is behind former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell and former Sen. George Allen are with former Tennesse Senator and "Law & Order" star Fred Thompson.
And former Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, a Republican, says former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has the credentials to lead the country.
— Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times
