McDonnell calls for unity after leading ouster of party chairman

By: JIM NOLAN AND TYLER WHITLEY TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS | Times-Dispatch
Published: April 07, 2009

It's not easy running for governor when you have to run off the head of your party.

Consider Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell -- who endorsed the ouster of GOP Chairman Jeffrey M. Frederick -- and now is making a plea for party unity.

"We must turn our attention to the November elections and work together to advance our positive, common-sense vision for bringing jobs and opportunity to every region of Virginia," McDonnell said in a statement. "I look forward to leading the effort to unify our party after this vote."

Now that McDonnell and GOP leaders have gotten their wish, their challenge is whether Republicans can bring everyone under the tent in time to give GOP candidates the best chance to win in November.

"Jeff Frederick lost his Republican Party chairmanship, but Bob McDonnell was the bigger loser by the way Frederick was removed," wrote Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, in a Twitter feed posted the night after the 57-18 vote that dumped Frederick.

Grass-roots social and fiscal conservatives who supported the 33-year-old Frederick declared a split in party ranks and said they would support him if he ran again for the job when the GOP meets in Richmond at the end of May for its state convention.

"The worst outcome for the party would be for Frederick to run in May and win back his post, because this would guarantee that the divisiveness continues, and it would overshadow McDonnell's hoped-for 'unity convention,'" said University of Virginia professor and political analsyst Larry Sabato.

He said the Frederick controversy reflects a broader national stuggle within the Republican party over its identity between "the hard-core right-wing party base that cares about issues above all, and the more mainstream conservatives who put more emphasis on winning elections."

Party leaders on Saturday offered two names of likely candidates to succeed Frederick -- Louisa County Republican Chairman Pat Mullins and Alexandra Liddy Bourne of Fairfax County, a one-time candidate for the House of Delegates and the daughter of former Watergate figure G. Gordon Liddy.

Chairman Mike Thomas said the party will meet on May 2 to decide who to endorse at the GOP state convention. McDonnell's campaign yesterday declined to take a position on who the next leader should be.

Frederick has hinted that he could challenge again for the post, but some are urging him to pass in favor of trying to unify the party.

University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias said McDonnell is in trouble if the convention becomes a carnival of politcal infighting instead of a coronation.

"A lot depends on what Frederick is going to do," he said. "McDonnell has to be worried about holding the party together. "If McDonnell doesn't handle this in a way that placates or assimilates the base and what happens is people stay at home, that's a real danger for him."

In November, Virginia will elect a governor, a lieutenant governor, an attorney general and all 100 members of the House of Delegates. After losing to Democrats its majority in the Virginia's U.S. House delegation, a U.S. Senate seat, the presidency and the governor's office in the past two elections, the stakes could not be higher for the Republican Party.

Sabato said although party unity will be important, the GOP's turbulent spring may be less of a factor in the heat of the campaign season.

"The quality and character of the opposing candidates, the big substantive issues, and the tides of politics will have much more impact on Bob McDonnell's fate in November," he said.

Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or jnolan@timesdispatch.com.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.