'New Blood' Needed to Reverse GOP's Fortunes, Some in Party Say

Some Republicans are hoping that George Allen, architect of the GOP's rise to power when he was governor from 1994 to 1998, will once again save the party if he runs for governor again in two years.

"There are many people who believe George has not seen his last political fight, and I think it is fair to say George maintains a deep well of political support," said Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William). Allen narrowly lost his Senate seat to James Webb (D) a year ago.

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R), who has been planning a gubernatorial run for years, said he is likely to run for governor even if Allen is in the race. A primary matchup between Allen and McDonnell, both conservatives, could come down to which candidate is more electable in a general election.

"I believe I can make an effective governor and an effective messenger for our party," said McDonnell, who was born in Fairfax County and settled in Virginia Beach after a career in the Army.

Before deciding on a messenger, Virginia Republicans say they have to agree on a common message that will appeal to all areas of the state.

In this year's state legislative races, many GOP candidates in Northern Virginia focused on curbing illegal immigration. The strategy helped Stewart, who said the party needs "someone with guts, willing to challenge the status quo and shake things up."

Other Republicans have been critical of Stewart's approach, saying his tone about illegal immigration threatens to push the increasingly diverse suburbs even further out of reach for statewide GOP candidates.

"Prince William is about to turn majority-minority, so what do we do? We go out and play to the fears of the white voters who are about to become the minority," said a longtime Northern Virginia Republican activist who spoke on condition of anonymity because he must work with Stewart. "They are dooming the party for the future."

Still others say moderate Republicans are the ones who threaten the party's long-term success. They point to Devolites Davis, who lost even as she tried to run to the left of Democrat J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen.

"Tom Davis and Jeannemarie were going to deliver the great Northern Virginia for the party, and she got clobbered," said Linwood Cobb, head of the 7th Congressional District Republican Committee of central Virginia.

Before Republicans can reclaim their dominance, Stewart said, Democrats will have to fail at addressing residents' concerns over immigration and transportation, which he thinks they will do.

"The Republicans are down in the dumps right now," Stewart said. "They are out of power. The ball is in the court of the Democrats."