As Mike Allen originally reported over at The Politico, Virginia’s outgoing Republican Senator hinted yesterday that he might vote for the Democrat running to succeed him:
RICHMOND, Oct. 4 — Retiring Sen. John W. Warner said Saturday that he has not decided whether to vote for the Republican seeking to replace him, citing James S. Gilmore III’s opposition to the $700 billion federal bailout of the credit markets.
In a conference call with reporters, Warner (R-Va.) held out the possibility that he will vote for Democrat Mark R. Warner. The two Warners, who are unrelated, ran against each other in a 1996 Senate campaign but have since become friends.
“I’m watching that race, following the positions of the two candidates,” John Warner said. “There are cases where I support Democratic candidates, but I am not there yet.”
The incumbent said he is disappointed that Gilmore is criticizing the bailout so strongly.
In a televised debate with Mark Warner on Friday night, Gilmore said the bailout was an unnecessary use of tax dollars because it would largely benefit the wealthy. He repeatedly criticized Mark Warner, a former governor, for supporting it.
“I will stand for the taxpayers,” said Gilmore, also a former governor, whose advisers think the issue can help jump-start his underdog campaign.
John Warner voted for the federal bailout plan Wednesday, arguing that it was needed to spur banks to lend money. “That is a vote for Virginia’s economy,” the senator said.
A story like this has the potential to torpedo Gilmore’s appeal among moderates and independents even more than it already is, so I can only think that Senator Warner made this comment deliberately, knowing that intent that it was likely to have the election.
And that only makes me wonder what Gilmore did to piss Warner off, because I doubt the bailout bill alone did it.
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