GOP hopefuls weigh challenge to Perriello in ’10

Several Republicans are beginning to weigh a possible bid against U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Ivy, a freshman congressman up for re-election next year…

The GOP views Perriello as one of the country’s most vulnerable Democrats. Republicans see his district — which stretches from the Charlottesville area down to the Southside communities of Danville and Martinsville — as a good opportunity to win back a seat in 2010…

Goode has filed for re-election, but says he has not yet made up his mind if he will run.

If Goode opts not to, Sen. Robert Hurt, a Republican who represents Danville and surrounding counties, said he would consider running against Perriello…

Another rumored GOP contender, Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, said Friday that he is not interested in running for Congress, at least not right now.

“People have certainly called me about it, but it’s not something I’m looking at,” Bell said.

The Hill newspaper reported that Bell had met with the National Republican Congressional Committee about the possibility of running against Perriello. In an interview Friday, Bell denied that such a meeting took place…

Yet another name being tossed around as a possible GOP challenger is Cordel Faulk, director of communications for the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. Prior to joining Larry J. Sabato’s organization in September 2008, Faulk worked as the Commentary editor at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Faulk declined to say much about the idea but did not rule out a possible run.

“Some people have asked me to think about it,” he said. “I haven’t said yes and I haven’t said no.”

One candidate who has already thrown his hat into the ring is Franklin County resident Bradley Rees, who works on an assembly line at a manufacturing plant in Lynchburg.

Rees, who writes a blog called sonsofliberty2k10, is a vocal advocate of the so-called “FairTax” that would replace federal income taxes with a national retail sales tax. Rees said he has been “kind of forced into running” because of what he sees as the government infringing on his liberties.

“There’s so much encroachment,” he said. “The federal government confiscates my money before I can put food on the table for my family.”…
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