The RPV's Red Ink

Jeff Schapiro's Sunday sermon topic is thrift, and how the RPV has sinned against this hallowed principle by spending itself into a $150,000 hole.

As Rev. Schapiro notes, this "may not register with the electorate," but he believes it does ring bells with the deep-pockets elsewhere who want to sculpt, probe and prod that undifferentiated mass of voters into something resembling a majority come November.

But have no fear. Even a debt-ridden party (as the Kaine-led DNC can attest) finds ways to keep the lights on and its consultants well-fed. The RPV will rise again, and, so long as they avoid the fines and wrist-slappings applied to the DPVA, they ought to do a passable job along the way.

Though there is this:

It's not the first time the GOP has been mired in debt. There were the bad old days of the 1980s, when Democrats pulled off what they hope to do again in the 2000s: a three-peat for governor.

If we use party debt as a proxy for voter enthusiasm, then, yes, Jeff has a point and Bob McDonnell should be concerned. But I prefer to see how things develop over the summer. If fundraising stays flat -- and not just at the RPV (funny how Creigh Deeds needs emergency cash injections from afar, isn't it?) -- then we may have a story on our hands. If not, and the money rolls in, then some Republicans will wonder how soon they can place Pat Mullins on the path to sainthood.