Below The Beltway

Tim Craig at The Washington Post has an article today about Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, who seems to be sailing smoothly toward the 2009 Gubernatorial nomination in a year while he chief rival has been under increasing fire:

In a legislative session that has been marred by partisan bickering, it’s doubtful many legislators or Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) will emerge as political winners before the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment Saturday.

But at least one politician, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R), has seen his stock soar this year just in time to launch his expected 2009 bid for governor.

Bolling’s growing political fortunes stem from his role as president of a closely divided Senate, which has enabled him to bolster his profile. But the lieutenant governor’s duties come with few other responsibilities, allowing Bolling to watch from the sidelines as his chief rival for the GOP nomination for governor, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, struggles with the everyday realities of being the state’s top law enforcement officer.

For example, McDonnell is among those in Richmond who seems to have suffered some damage from the collapse of the transportation last week, which culminated last week in the Supreme Court decision declaring the regional authority taxes unconstitutional:

McDonnell was a key player in bringing Senate and House Republicans together last year to try to fashion a deal to raise more revenue for transportation.

(…)
Although conservatives didn’t like the plan because it included higher taxes, there didn’t appear to be much political risk for McDonnell, who looked as if he were assuming the role of the party’s leader.

(…)

in the months that followed, the transportation plan that was supposed to be one of McDonnell’s signature accomplishments has become a hindrance to his gubernatorial aspirations.

First came the unpopular abusive-driver fees, which McDonnell’s office was forced to defend in court. Last week the Virginia Supreme Court ruled parts of the transportation plan unconstitutional, a blow to McDonnell.

Some GOP lawmakers even blamed his office for the court’s decision, saying state attorneys gave them bad information in the spring about the legality of how the regional transportation plans were structured.

I can’t say that I’m in a position to say which of these guys — Boilling or McDonnell — would make a better candidate in 2009, but it’s pretty clear that by staying silent and doing his job, Lt. Governor Bolling has increased his stock significantly.