He may have ascended like a meteor, but now he is descending like a meteor and perhaps flaming out. Gilmore also has offended many Virginia Republicans by taking sides in internal party contests, trying to pick the winners in GOP competitions for the legislature, Congress and for governor. Each attempt, including a recent effort to stop Lt. Gov. John Hager from running against Attorney General Mark Earley for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, has failed. The party is in disarray. Other critics argue that trying to perform two full-time jobs has left him unable to perform either one well.
Critics point to a controversial state resolution as evidence.
But Gilmore later learned that the resolution was requested by a group headed by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. The governor said signing it was a mistake and rescinded the proclamation. You can't do it with your focus outside of Virginia. Many of us are concerned he has Virginia in his rear-view mirror. If the GOP loses in Virginia and elsewhere this fall, many Republicans could want a change.