Will a challenger emerge to take on Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA) next year? According to the Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk sheriff Bob McCabe, a former Republican, is considering a run after being approached by some local Democrats:
Sheriff Bob McCabe said he may challenge U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake in November.
“There are some Democratic leaders who are encouraging me to run,” McCabe said Wednesday. “It wasn’t on my radar screen six or seven weeks ago, but I’ve been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from grass-roots people and friends in Richmond and Washington.”
McCabe, 49, is a Navy veteran and former Norfolk police officer who was elected sheriff 15 years ago. He was elected as a Republican, with Drake’s support, and still has photographs of GOP stalwarts Oliver North and George Allen in his office at the City Jail.
However, he left the GOP several years ago, saying elements of the party had become too extreme. He later joined the Democratic Party.
VA-02 is an R+5.9 district that Bush carried by 12 and 16 point margins in 2000 and 2004, respectively, but the DCCC still wants to target this seat, despite top-tier candidate Phil Kellam’s narrow loss in 2006. At the statewide level, Dems have been competitive here: Webb lost by three points in 2006, but Tim Kaine won it by the same margin in 2005.
Another potential candidate is Jody Wagner, the state secretary of finance and a strong fundraiser, who lost a previous attempt at the seat by 4% when it was open in 2000. We’ll see how this shakes out. If I were McCabe, I might think about taking down those pictures, though…
(H/T: Raising Kaine)
Draft him, he’ll win.
It’s this guy. His profile sounds great and Virginia is turning blue in 08.