GOP '13: Obenshain to announce AG plans, Bolling vs. Cuccinelli matchup

Harrisonburg Republican Sen. Mark Obenshain confirmed Thursday he's exploring a bid for attorney general in the 2013 statewide election as news broke about the future plans of that office's current occupant.

A more formal announcement from Obsenshain is expected soon -- he said he'll make his intentions clear after Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli declares his plans for the next election. (Cuccinelli is expected to reveal his plans to run for governor in the near term.)

The race for the Republican nomination for attorney general is likely to involve Obenshain and Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, and possibly other candidates.

They'll both seek to replace Cuccinelli, who now appears focused on winning the state's top elective office, a pursuit that creates some interesting dynamics.

Cuccinelli's entry into the race sets up a bitter nomination battle with Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who stepped aside so Bob McDonnell could run unopposed for governor in 2009, but is unlikely to yield this time around. McDonnell has clearly thrown his support to Bolling.

And a Cuccinelli announcement, if one comes soon, could again catapult the headline-grabbing attorney general into the limelight and steal some of Bolling’s thunder just as he was poised to gain some prominence as the critical tiebreaking vote for the GOP in the evenly divided state Senate.

Cuccinelli's people deny that they were involved in the leak about him entering the governor's race, but its timing is nonetheless curious.

A conservative lightning rod and Tea Party darling perhaps best known for his challenge to the federal health care law, Cuccinelli isn't reluctant to go his own way even if it puts him at odds with the party establishment.

Case in point, he'll be in New York City Saturday evening to quiz GOP presidential hopefuls as a panelist on a FOX News forum even as much of the Virginia Republican Party, including Bolling, gathers at The Homestead this weekend for a retreat.

The shift of Cuccinelli and Bolling from political teammates to combatants also raises questions.

What would happen if Cuccinelli is asked for legal advice on the scope of Bolling's legislative tiebreaking powers, which Democrats are contesting?

Or what if McDonnell becomes the Republican vice presidential nominee and Bolling replaces him, setting up a nomination fight between a suddenly incumbent Gov. Bolling with Cuccinelli as a challenger?

And will Cuccinelli resign his office at some point, as other Virginia attorneys general have to run for governor, or buck recent tradition and retain the seat?

UPDATE: Democrats reacted to news of Cuccinelli's expected entry into the gubernatorial race by labeling him a self-promoting ideologue.

“Instead of fighting everyday for Virginia families, he has used his taxpayer-funded office to prove to the Tea Party that no one is more radically out of touch with middle class Virginians than he is," Virginia Democratic Party chairman Brian Moran said in a statement.

“While Cuccinelli and the Republicans would rather pick fights with Washington and curry favor with the Tea Party than fight for middle class families, Democrats are focused on creating jobs and opportunity by improving education, fixing transportation and investing in clean energy," added Moran, telegraphing 2013 talking points.

UPDATE 2: Both Bolling and Cuccinelli have fundraisers scheduled in Hampton Roads in the coming weeks. Bolling has two, one in Newport News next Thursday and another in Norfolk after the New Year. And Cuccinelli has a luncheon event set for Dec. 19 in Virginia Beach.

-- Julian Walker

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