With seven announced candidates, the Republicans would seem to have plenty of choices from which to pick an opponent for Tom Perriello next fall. (Two other people have announced as Independent or Conservative)

Yet today there's plenty of speculation that Virgil Goode might step in to try to reclaim the seat. He lost narowly to Perriello in 2008 in a recount.

An article in Sunday's Washington Post tells us that Virginia Tea Party leaders have put together a list of seven acceptable candidates--the six announced Republicans who are not Robert Hurt, plus Virgil Goode. Hurt is widely seen as the choice of the Republican establishment (Eric Cantor has donated to his campaign), and is entirely unacceptable to the Tea parties. Should Goode opt in, the theory is that the six others would unite behind him.

Goode filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission in March but said in July that he would not seek the Republican nomination.

In a recent interview with the WaPo, Goode acknowledged that several groups had contacted him, but that he "wasn't seeking" the Republican nomination. Goode said his hope is that Republicans will nominate a candidate "who shares most of my beliefs and my ideals." All the players recognize the destructive potential of division within conservative ranks. A primary is scheduled for June to select a candidate.

(Dave Sagarin, January 18, 2010)