Virginia Sen. George Allen was elected Wednesday to serve as the new chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, placing him in a key Senate leadership position.
"It's an important post," Allen spokeswoman Carrie Cantrell said. "He's in the Senate leadership, so he can help formulate policy and recruit top quality candidates for" 2004.
The Senate Republicans unanimously elected Allen to succeed Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, the current NRSC chairman.
"He was selected because he mainly wanted it more than any other senator," Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato said.
Allen's sole opposition, Nevada Sen. John Ensign, withdrew from the election because he believed the post would consume too much time, Sabato said.
Allen inherits many duties as NRSC chairman.
"He wants to maintain and build on our majority we gained last week," Cantrell said.
Allen's primary responsibilities will include recruiting top candidates and being the chief fundraiser for the Republican Party.
"His role is criss-crossing the country, helping Republicans select good candidates for the Senate and mainly raising tens of millions of dollars from the right people and groups," Sabato said.
Sabato speculated on Allen's personal reasons for seeking the post.
"He wants it because it fits into his master plan of running for president, probably in 2008," Sabato said.
The College Republicans understandably were pleased by Allen's selection.
"I don't think it's any surprise that George Allen is rising so quickly within the Senate leadership," said Nathan Royster, vice chairman for events for the College Republicans. "He is probably the best politician to come through this state."
Royster cited Allen's 1994 come-from-behind victory to win the Virginia governor's race as a turning point in state politics -- helping to shift the state from a Democratic to a Republican stronghold.
"Ever since he pulled that out, the state of Virginia hasn't looked back," Royster said.
Prior to joining the Senate by defeating two-term incumbent Chuck Robb in 2000, Allen served as governor of Virginia from 1994 to 1998.
He also won a seat in the U.S. House in 1991 by a special election. Allen's first election victory came in 1982 when he was elected to the state House of Delegates from Charlottesville by a 25-vote margin.
Allen attended the University for both undergraduate and graduate school, receiving his degree from the College in 1974 and the Law School in 1977. During his time at the University, Allen was quarterback of the football team and a member of the ACC All-Academic team. He also was president of his fourth-year class.
Read More
Will Ryan’s resignation impact the University’s reaccreditation?
By Leigh Bailey | 17 hours agoDr. Janea Johnson, public relations and data specialist at SACSCOC, said in a written statement to The Cavalier Daily July 28 that “a change in leadership does not automatically become a compliance concern.”
United Healthcare takes over as student health insurance provider
By Lauren Seeliger | 22 hours agoAll University students are required to be medically insured, but the University student plan is only required for students who do not have other, valid health insurance.
University community leaders gather at the Rotunda to speak about interim President Mahoney
By Xander Tilock | YesterdayEach speaker addressed concerns over a lack of input from students, faculty, staff and community members in the circumstances which led to former University President Jim Ryan’s resignation and the decision-making process since then.
