Davis readies strategy to replace Warner

Richmond (Map, News) - Virginia GOP lawmaker Tom Davis purchased three Web site domains last year in preparation for a U.S. Senate campaign that he may launch if incumbent Republican John Warner does not seek a sixth term.

News that Davis, the seven-term representative from Fairfax County, bought the sites intensified speculation that Warner has decided to retire but is putting off an announcement to allow Davis to have a head start against possible opponents.

Davis has purchased the rights to TomDavisforSenate.com, TomDavisforSenate.org and DavisforSenate.org.

Warner has insisted he has not made up his mind about the 2008 election and will announce his plans later this year. On Tuesday, a Davis spokesman said the congressman was preparing just in case Warner retires but has no inside knowledge.

“You have to get these things taken care of early,” Brian McNicoll told The Examiner after the purchases were reported on several Virginia political blogs. “He has often said he may run if John Warner does not.”

Davis, a former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, paid Alexandria-based CampaignSolutions $258 for the domain names, according to his 2006 campaign finance report.

Sean O’Brien, director of the Charlottesville-based Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership, said Davis would be a formidable candidate because of his political base in Northern Virginia.

The pundit noted that the likely Democratic candidate if Warner retires would be Alexandria resident Mark Warner, the popular ex-governor and erstwhile presidential hopeful who is not related to the incumbent.

“Mark Warner is probably the only Democrat who could beat Tom Davis,” O’Brien said.

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com

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