From yesterday's edition of The Hotline:
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Dick Wadhams, the campaign manager for Sen.-elect John Thune (R-SD), has been hired to be CoS for Sen. George Allen (R-VA). He will start the job 1/1. Wadhams explained that "over the course of the last year," he had the "opportunity" to see Allen "up close and get to know him." He "deflected" talk of the impact of his hiring on the "early positioning" for '08, emphasizing that "the only thing to read is that Senator Allen wanted a chief of staff who could help him in his service and representation to the commonwealth of Virginia." However, one "high-level" GOP strategist was "more blunt" in saying that Wadhams is a "first-round draft pick of '08."
Allen continues to dismiss talk of an '08 presidential bid, arguing that his attention is "entirely focused" on winning re-election in '06. VA Gov. Mark Warner (D) is mentioned as a possible challenger to Allen, yet Warner also has "presidential ambitions" which could be an "argument against taking on a bruising battle" against Allen.
Wadhams had managed the 1st gubernatorial bid by Bill Owens (R-CO), who is currently involved in a "high profile separation" from his wife. Wadhams' decision to "sign on" with Allen could be interpreted as a "slackening in Owens' own presidential hopes" (Cillizza, Roll Call, 12/9).
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