Former US Senator George Allen to Declare his Candidacy for US Senate in Virginia

According to the Politico, former Virginia US Senator George Allen will announce that he is running for the US Senate in 2012 on Monday. At Allen’s web site it states, “STAY TUNED”. A Webb – Allen match up will be much anticipated in the GOP attempt to take back the US Senate.

Allen, who has been making all the moves of a candidate in recent weeks, is expected to blast an e-mail to supporters with a video message before alerting the media.

The announcement comes as no surprise. The former governor and senator has been making all the moves of a candidate in recent weeks, touring the state to champion a repeal of the health care law, quietly reaching out to state lawmakers and seeking advice from those who guided his earliest campaigns.

George Allen lost to current Virginia US Senator Jim Webb in 2006 election by less than 8,000 votes.  Jim Webb has yet to announce whether he is even going to run for reelection. All eyes will be on this high profile Senate match up as in 2012 Democrats have to defend 23 seats while Republicans only have to defend 10.

There will be a much different political climate in 2012 as compared to 2006 when Jim Webb was elected, along with the Democrat take over of the US House and Senate by Democrats. Since the 2006 victory by Democrat Jim Webb, Democrats lost the VA governorship in 2009 as Republican Bob McDonnell won big. The 2010 midterm elections was also a debacle for Democrats in Virginia. The GOP picked up 3 US House seats in VA 02, VA 05 and VA 09.

Virginia is a much different place in 2010 than it was in 2006 or 2008 when Obama carried the the Commonwealth 53% to 47% over McCain. This will prove to be an extremely tough hold for Democrats.