Speculation about Tom Perriello’s future in Virginia elective politics began almost as soon as he was defeated for reelection in 2010.
The Charlottesville raised former Democratic congressman from the 5th district, who now heads up the liberal think tank, Center for American Progress, has been mentioned as a possible statewide candidate in 2013 and beyond.
On Monday, however, Perriello came close to ruling out a run next year without issuing an outright ”no.”
“I’m not about to run for anything - I’m not looking to run for anything,” he said in an interview following a presentation in Richmond to a mostly Democratic crowd on the impact of the Romney economic plan on the poor and the middle class.
“I’m young, so I’m not making a definitive statement,” the 37-year-old old lawyer explained.
“If I feel called, I’ll answer the call at any point, but I don’t imagine that happening (in 2013),” he said. “I’m excited to be where I am… Honestly I am close to having ruled that out as possible, but if I suddenly woke up tomorrow and saw a way that,” he said cutting himself off.
“I mean the issue with those races is not how to win — I can figure that out,” Perriello continued. “It’s what you can accomplish with the seat. And I think right now I’m more interested in trying to deal with the structural reforms that mean someone — anyone – in that position would be in a better place to get things done that Virginia needs to get done.”
Among them, Perriello sights the pervasive influence of big money in politics.
“The system is really broken and until we get the money out of politics it’s going to be hard to do things that I think need to be done,” he said.
Second, Perriello said that when he left office, he felt like neither side had an answer for how America was going to “out-compete the world and how were going to rebuild the core promise of the American Dream.”
Perriello said the Democratic party has made progress on that front over the last year or so, but said he is “more interested in the idea side” than ”being the name on the ballot.”
So far, only former Democratic National Committee Chairman-turned green energy entrepreneur Terry McAuliffe has emerged as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2013.
Former White House technology czar and Kaine administration official Aneesh Chopra has announced a run for Lieutenant Governor, while State Sen. Mark Herring, D-Loudoun, has announced plans to run for attorney general. Mike Signer, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2009, has also filed paperwork indicating a possible run for attorney general.
