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Reaction to Cantor's attention. Date published: 8/5/2008
By Chelyen Davis RICHMOND-- Like Gov. Tim Kaine before him, Rep. Eric Cantor is mum on weekend rumors that he's being considered for the vice-presidential short list.In a conference call with reporters to discuss Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's energy plan, Cantor was asked if he would like to discuss reports that Republican presidential candidate John McCain is vetting him as a potential vice-presidential candidate. "No, I wouldn't," Cantor said, steering the questions back toward energy policy. Over the weekend, news outlets cited sources who said Cantor--a Richmonder whose 7th congressional district includes Caroline, Culpeper, Orange, Louisa and part of Spotsylvania counties--had submitted documents to the McCain campaign as part of the vetting process. That follows last week's flurry of news stories about how Kaine is being seriously considered by Obama. Local Republicans think Cantor would add to the Republican ticket. "I certainly think Eric would be a strong addition to the ticket, but as 7th district chair, I would hate to see him leave the district," said 7th District GOP chairman Linwood Cobb. Cobb said Cantor is "very up to snuff with terrorism. "He is one of the rising stars and complements McCain's fiscal conservatism to cut spending and bring some order to the way we spend money up in Washington," Cobb said. He pointed out that Cantor's name had previously been pushed for the vice-presidential slot by a Web site, ericcantorforvp.com, beginning last month. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported in June the ericcantorforvp.com site was created by Washington lobbyist Beau Phillips. "There's been a strong grass-roots movement that's really pushed Eric's name to the forefront," Cobb said. Stafford County GOP chairwoman Susan Stimpson also is excited about the possibility of Cantor running for vice president. "I think Eric Cantor is a solid conservative, and, obviously, the Republicans rely on him to get things done as the deputy whip, so I think he represents leadership at the national level, but also he brings youth," Stimpson said. "Yes, he's conservative, but I like the diversity he brings to it because he's Jewish, and I think it's exciting that McCain is stepping out in that way." Political analysts say Cantor is an unconventional option for McCain, but that the mere fact his name has been floated indicates Virginia's importance this fall.
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