GOP seeks to regroup

Though a Democrat carried Old Dominion for the first time since 1964, Virginia remains a state right of center.

That’s the assessment of state Sen. Emmett Hanger, the Mount Solon Republican who has endured assaults from within his own party, fractured in recent years by infighting over taxes in Virginia and angst over the war nationally.

An example of the GOP’s struggles: In the Senate race, Democrat Mark Warner trounced Jim Gilmore, the former Republican governor and former presidential candidate, who received little party support and trailed badly in the critical area of fundraising.

Republicans have work to do to return to the win column, Hanger said.

That, he and James Madison University political scientist Bob Roberts said, starts with the party getting back to basics in leadership and message.

The state GOP has seen Northern Virginia develop into a Democratic stronghold because it is failing to reach the area’s diverse population, including Asian and Hispanic voters, Roberts said.

Further evidence of the party’s weakened state: Roberts also noted that President-elect Barack Obama won a traditionally conservative county such as Henrico County in the Richmond area, and narrowly lost in Chesterfield County.

“The Republicans can’t win just appealing to white males,’’ Roberts said.

Hanger, who faced his own party challenge from Rockbridge County businessman Scott Sayre a year ago, said he thinks the Republican Party is being dominated by certain groups and conservative talk show hosts such as Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.

“I’m concerned the message is getting lost,’’ Hanger said. “The face of the Republican Party is not the same face as the party I’ve been active in over the past 30 years.”

Hanger said talk show hosts like Limbaugh and Hannity and GOP political operatives like Karl Rove “have defined politics as warfare rather than a forum for an expression of ideas.”

The party, Hanger said, needs to again express ideas rather than “engaging in polarizing, partisan debate.”

Of Gilmore’s defeat, Hanger said it was a combination of a strong support for Warner and a “50-50” split in the Republican ranks for Gilmore.

Hanger said he supported Gilmore as a committed conservative, but called Gilmore “very combative.’’

Roberts said Warner employed a successful political strategy.

“Warner ran as a non-partisan similar to 2001. He stayed above the fray and did not attack McCain,’’ he said.

Roberts said Warner also did not engage Gilmore because he had such a substantial financial and poll advantage. 

Both Roberts and Hanger said next year’s gubernatorial race becomes pivotal for the Virginia Republican Party.

Republicans have lost the last three statewide races, and the presidential race. Clearly, they need a victory, Roberts said.

“They must stop with the interparty fighting,’’ Roberts said of Republicans.

Hanger said he thinks likely Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell will have a good shot because the focus will be “more on individuals and policies they are promoting.”

It is time for the party leadership to step forward, Hanger said.

“We need leadership that will … espouse principles and an ability and willingness to cooperate in governance,” he said, “rather than denigrating government for short-term political gain.”