AG Cuccinelli Expands Statement on Intent to Run for Governor

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli raised some eyebrows with the announcement that he would run for Governor in 2013. Most in Virginia Republican circles were familiar with the “deal” made between then Attorney General Bob McDonnell and then (and still) Lt. Governor Bill Bolling. Or most had at least heard the rumor.

In order to keep from a bloody and expensive Republican Primary, McDonnell and Bolling came to an understanding. It was more important for Virginia and the Republican Party to regain the governorship than any individual. In exchange for running for a second term as Lt. Governor in 2009, Bob McDonnell promised to support Bolling in a bid for the Governor’s job in 2013. Nice and neat and the money saved by not fighting a primary could be spent defeating the Democrats.

And it worked well.

And Bill Bolling announced his intent to run for governor not long after he was sworn in for his second term as Lt. Governor.

And Bob McDonnell did as agreed. He supported Bolling for 2013. We expected nothing less.

But the candidate who won the job as Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli, at the time a state senator, was not a party to any such deal. And it is hardly news when a Virginia Attorney General announces a bid for governor. It happens with regularity.

Bolling disappointed a lot of his friends and supporters with his statement more or less attacking Cuccinelli for not living up to the agreement between Bolling and McDonnell. Perhaps this deal was “sanctioned” by the state Republican powers that be, but that is simply speculation and totally irrelevant when it comes to Cuccinelli.

And who knows, there may well be more potential challengers for the Republican nomination. 2013 is a long way off with the 2012 elections looming in between.

Cuccinelli’s thoughts (posted below) address this “deal” and his views on the 2013 elections.

And another point that he addressed succinctly was his decision to remain in the job he was elected to do while he runs for Governor. Many Attorneys General have stepped down to run for Governor. Bob McDonnell is the most recent example.

And McDonnell was criticized (mostly by the left) for not completing the job he was hired to do, even though he thought it best for the Commonwealth to have a full time Attorney General.

But the lefty blogs in particular are screaming that Cuccinelli should step down because he can’t be Attorney General and run for Governor at the same time.

Ironically, they have no problem with President Obama running for re-election and remaining President at the same time.

It seems that their criticism is only for Republicans who decide to remain in office while running for another office.

Let the left not be troubled. I have no doubt that Ken Cuccinelli can do both. Well. He will continue to go after the overreaching Federal Government when he needs to, and he will continue to prosecute bad guys with his full attention.

But that is what the left fears! Not that Cuccinelli will be unable to do the job as he has done for the last 2 years, but that he will continue to stand in the way of the Progressive agenda.

And AG Cuccinelli makes a compelling case for both running for Governor and finishing the job he was hired to do.

From the Cuccinelli Compass:

Dear Fellow Virginians,

Time seems to be getting shorter and shorter, so the Compass will reflect that a bit, but here goes.

Four quick initial thoughts on the Governor’s race… in chronological order.  First, back in 2008, then-Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell made a private agreement. They agreed that Bob would run for Governor in 2009 and Bill would run in 2013.  Part of the deal of course was that in exchange for Bill stepping back in 2009, Bob McDonnell would support Bill Bolling for Governor in 2013.  I was unaware of the agreement before it was announced, and I had no role in its development.

The Governor will uphold his deal with the Lt. Governor.  My working relationship with the Governor is not going to suffer during the remainder of my tenure.  Additionally, I am as readily available and willing to work with the Lt. Governor as ever.  We are all allies in governance today and always, even if we will be competitors in politics in 2013.

Second, while I would note that some have complained to me about not “waiting my turn,” I didn’t get in a line and I am not in the habit of trying to stifle competition.  I’m certainly not going to stifle it myself.

In the Republican Party, we talk all the time about the importance of free markets and open competition.  It seems to me that if we don’t practice what we preach, we won’t have much credibility with others.  Not sticking to our principles has done our party enormous damage over the last 10 years or so (it gave us the current President), and these are traps I have continually fought against in my time in politics and government.  I don’t intend to change that when the time comes to elect our next Governor.

And lastly under this second point, I only recently made the decision that I intend to run for Governor in 2013.  It was not something that I showed up in the AG’s office to do.  Much of what I have learned and observed from the unique vantage point of an Attorney General has influenced my decision.

Third, when I do begin to campaign for Governor, I’ll begin the campaign gradually.  The reason for the gradual nature of the campaign of course is that 2012 is the most important election in which we are ever going to be involved in our lifetimes.  The stakes have never been higher, and my political work will reflect that.  I hope all of you are ready to pitch in next year, as Virginia will be at ground zero as one of the most important swing states in the country.

Fourth, I have let it be known that, when I do begin to campaign for Governor, I will not step down as Attorney General.  While other Virginia Attorneys General before me have resigned to run for Governor, its important to know that Virginia is the only state with such a tradition.  No other state does this.  Why? 

Because AGs in other states are perfectly capable of doing their jobs while running for office (whether for re-election, Governor, or whatever).  I am too.

Would I have resigned to run for re-election?  No.  Then why resign when we get in the Governor’s race?

I said when I was running for AG in 2009 that I fully expected to serve out my term, and I made such comments in the absence of a commitment to run or not run for any particular office.

It will be a long road, and our journey will commence gradually as it relates to the Governor’s race.  And throughout it all, my top priority will remain being the best Attorney General I can be for Virginia so long as I am honored to hold this office.

There will be more to say on this subject later, but as for now, it’s on to 2012!

Sincerely,

Ken Cuccinelli, II
Attorney General of Virginia

AG Cuccinelli Expands Statement on Intent to Run for Governor