Is This Thing On?

Jim Gilmore yesterday declared his candidacy for President of the United States.

Cue the crickets.

Gilmore made the announcement in front of 40 people at the GOP headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, several less than showed up for my preschooler's Circus Day.

If you tried to find the story on AP this morning, you'd have to navigate past Richard Gere downplaying the kiss and the passing of the guy who sang "Monster Mash." Even the Times-Dispatch buried it on the bottom corner of the Metro Section front page. Can you imagine where that story would have played if it had been George Allen or Mark Warner running? Let's face it. With less than $200,000 raised, zero name recognition and very little charisma, Jim Gilmore is to long shots what the Grand Canyon is to big.

Janet Giampietro