Virginia Republican entertains suggestions that he run for president in 2008, but re-election to Senate in 2006 is next key step.

By CHELYEN DAVIS

Date published: 1/23/2005

WASHINGTON--Sen. George Allen was trying to handshake his way out the door of his crowded pre-inauguration reception in Washington Thursday when a reporter popped the question: Is Allen contemplating a run for president in 2008?

The supporters around the Virginia Republican cheered.

They, at least, would like to see a President Allen. And the man himself isn't saying no, choosing instead to play it coy.

"It is nice to have so many nice folks encouraging that," he said, breaking free of the crowd and sweeping down the hall of the Russell Senate Office Building, trying to make it to the inauguration on time. "Susan would be a wonderful first lady, but first things first--re-election in 2006."

Speculation has swirled for a while now that Allen would like to attend the next presidential inauguration not as a senator, but as the president-elect himself.

Allen can partly thank his appointment as chairman of the National Senatorial Campaign Committee for putting his name into the 2008 hat.

He spent the past two years working to elect Republican senators, and he has raised a lot of money and made national connections doing so. His efforts helped unseat Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, a major feather in Allen's hat.

"The single biggest advantage that George Allen has is the very successful tenure he had running the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee," said University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth. "The Republicans had a great year in 2004 in those Senate seats, particularly in the South. So Allen has picked up some IOUs, and his resume is the sort of resume that can work pretty well in a presidential campaign."

Farnsworth said Allen's resume would make him an appealing candidate. He's served in Congress and the Senate and been governor of a Southern state.

Bill Wood, executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, said Allen has a nonthreatening, folksy persona that appeals to people.

But others might be more attractive.

If the 2008 nomination field is crowded with candidates similar to Allen--other governors, or other Southerners--his advantages decrease. Farnsworth thinks a possible run by Florida governor and presidential brother Jeb Bush would knock Allen out of the water.

Date published: 1/23/2005