Virginia Dems Might Want to Hold the Phone

And Creigh Deeds knows it. In yesterday's Times-Dispatch, Deeds stated, "A 20-20 Senate is a 21-20 Republican Senate".

This is true, as Lt. Governor Bill Bolling would become the tiebreaker. Bolling, as many of you know, is also a Republican. However, the article goes on to further state that this has farther-reaching implications than just the balance of power in the State Senate. The article goes on to talk about what this means for the conservative wing of the GOP in Virginia.

"Bolling has said he believes that the lieutenant governor, the constitutionally designated tie-breaker, can even vote on organizational issues -- and he is prepared to do so. But Bolling is more than a single vote. He is an insurance policy for fellow conservatives, who could finally dominate the Senate GOP caucus and, with Bolling's "aye" or "nay," the entire Senate.

This would be a remarkable turn for Bolling, whom centrist Republicans marginalized in 2006 by limiting his say on procedure and denying him a secretary, and this year, a Capitol office. His stature for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2009 could grow, possibly at the expense in 2008 of Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine."

Should Bolling's popularity and stature within the party (and the state) grow from this possible situation, it would definitely increase the visibility of the conservative wing of the GOP, and would not bode well for centrist Republicans in pushing their own agendas in close votes.