If Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush triumphs in November's election, Virginia's own Gov. James S. Gilmore III may be packing his bags and heading for a national appointment in the Bush White House.
There has been speculation that Gilmore may be considered for positions such as Attorney General, Secretary of Commerce or a position in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said Ed Matricardi, executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia.
Gilmore has worked closely with the Bush campaign throughout the primaries and into the convention as the co-chair of Victory 2000, a grassroots organization committed to electing Bush president. He also attended the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles to head up the Republican response to Democratic convention speeches -- one of three Republican governors to make the trip.
Despite rumors of Gilmore's possible appointment, the Bush camp insists no plans have been made in regards to national offices, Bush campaign spokesman Tucker Eskew said.
Even so, Gilmore may be considered for a position in the administration if Bush wins in the fall.
"Gilmore represents the quality of people you'd like to have on your team," Eskew said.
Presently, Gilmore does not plan on leaving his Virginia governorship early for a national position.
"The governor is concentrating wholeheartedly on being the best governor for Virginia," Gilmore spokesman Kevin Sheridan said.
But the governor has not ruled out the possibility of being called upon by the Bush administration, Sheridan said.
Some pundits said they believe that Bush definitely will ask Gilmore to assume a position in his administration.
"Bush owes Gilmore a big debt," said Scott Keeter, director of the Center for Public Policy at George Mason University. "He was a big ally to Bush at a critical time in the Virginia primaries."
If Gilmore decides to accept a national appointment, he will have to leave office before his term as governor has ended, passing on the position to lieutenant governor John Hager.
Since Virginia governors normally are not allowed to have two consecutive terms, Hagar, who plans to run for governor in the 2001 race, would become the first incumbent to run in a Virginia governor race.
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