It’s received surprisingly little media or blog coverage given his previous job and high national profile, but ex-RNC Chair Ed Gillespie is likely to be named as the new Chair of the Republican Party of Virginia this weekend. A New Jersey native, Gillespie, like many DC-area Republicans, lives in Northern Virginia. He had been primed to take a top role in a George Allen ‘08 campaign, but is now looking for other avenues to serve his party and ensure that the Commonwealth stays red in ‘08 (he’s promised to stay neutral in the WH race now that Allen is out of the mix).
Gillespie allies (and Allen loyalists) are circulating the below talking points to the GOP activists who will make the decision on their next party leader. Note the careful wording on the third bullet and don’t be surprised to see a Gillespie on the ballot sometime down the road.
- He is firmly grounded in Republican principles that define us as a party
- His experiences and qualifications as former chairman of the RNC make him an obvious choice
- He is not interested in running for office
- He has chosen to live and work in Virginia for the past 13 years
- His appointment may avoid a bloodbath among the different factions in the party
- His ability to attract national money for our candidates