Is Chris Saxman running for Governor and Senate at the same time?

That's the impression you would get listening to his rhetoric lately. At every given chance, Del. Saxman rails against the "Old Guard" of the Virginia Republican Party. Even Saxman supporters admit that his U.S. Senate bid is more to establish him as a "new face" for the GOP and to gain statewide support for a run for office in 2009. Prior to now, most people had assumed he had been planning a run for Lt. Gov., but his insistent attacks on the "old guard" of the GOP would seem to suggest he is setting his sights a little higher.

Saxman clearly intends to follow the example of Mark Warner, that is he intends to tank a U.S. Senate race in order to run again in 2009. With this tactic in mind, it becomes fairly clear that his rhetoric about the "old guard" is directed just as much at Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Gov. George Allen as it is at Gov. Jim Gilmore. Everyone knows that Saxman is going to lose and run again for something in 2009, why else would he be hitting the "old guard" unless he was looking at a confrontation with them down the road? Surely he isn't self-destructive enough to damage all of these campaigns at once unless he planned on running for Governor.

We at Red Senate on the other hand, would like to salute the so-called "old guard" for their service to Virginia. Bill Bolling, Jim Gilmore, and Bob McDonnell (the "old guard") have proven themselves as Republican leaders and dedicated public servants. Sen. Allen has served us with distinction in the United States Senate and will hopefully have another chance to serve the people of Virginia in the future, the objections of Chris Saxman and his ego notwithstanding.

The Old Guard