Some more interesting developments in the Colgan story. As I noted in the comments, my source for the story was contacted by members of the Colgan family about their willingness to support Charlie Colgan (grandson of Chuck) for the seat after Chuck announces his retirement. Dick Saslaw was involved in this movement.
But as we quickly learned after posting, Charlie Colgan isn't even eligible to run as he hasn't lived in Virginia for the past year. Which means one of two things:
1) Dick is so out of touch that he doesn't even know the basic requirements to run for Senate and this move blew up in his face, or
2) Dick did know the person he was recruiting was ineligible and did it anyway
I hadn't thought much about scenario #2 because it's so absurd. But after getting a phone call last night, I'm starting to be convinced that's exactly what is going on here. But why would Saslaw recruit someone who is ineligible to run?
Political hostage taking.
The theory I heard was this- if Saslaw could get Charlie interested in moving back and running for the Senate, he would then "discover" that Charlie wasn't eligible to run this year. That would give him a reason to "flip" Chuck Colgan's decision not to run until Charlie had time to return to Prince William and re-establish his residence to run for the seat.
In other words a political hostage situation. If Chuck Colgan doesn't want to ruin the chances of his grandson replacing him, he would have to run again and serve in the Senate until Charlie became eligible.
But this whole scenario doesn't work unless Charlie is interested in moving back to run- which is why Dick needed to try and recruit a candidate from Colorado. No word yet on whether he has been successful but this will be fascinating to watch.
I think you've been in the sun too long.
Posted by: AndyH | May 27, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Wow, I'm surprised you think Saslaw is so smart and conniving. You generally try to portray him as a moron.
Posted by: PJ | May 27, 2011 at 02:40 PM
One more reason this makes sense. If Charlie returns soon, he can run in 2012 downballot from Obama in PWC.
Posted by: 2012 | May 27, 2011 at 02:42 PM
Ben,
Do you truly believe some of stuff you write?
Posted by: WTH | May 27, 2011 at 02:53 PM
Sen. Colgan is 84. If he is aggressively challenged, he will have much campaigning to do--& we all know that hard campaigning is exhausting.
why would Sen. Colgan want to put himself thru this?
& why would anyone, even Sen. Colgan himself, think that his grandson can move here & automatically win political office?
Posted by: kelley in virginia | May 27, 2011 at 03:14 PM
Having been on the wrong side of him and suffered the consequences, rest assured Saslaw is this smart and smarter.
KIV - His grandson lived in PWC before and served on the school board. His roots in PWC are deeper than Connaughton, Stewart or Frederick.
Posted by: martinlomasney | May 27, 2011 at 06:32 PM
Who in their right mind would MOVE back to Virginia to run for the Senate at $18K a year? Answer, no one with a brain.
Posted by: Ghost of RWR | May 28, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Dave Marsden shows the Senate Dems don't really care about things like residency requirements...
Posted by: Bwana | May 28, 2011 at 09:04 PM
Today's WaPo PW section
has an article stating
Senator Colgan hasn't
made the decision if
he will run again.
Posted by: Big Dog | May 29, 2011 at 10:44 AM