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Bill Bolling

• Age: 50
• Home: Mechanicsville
• Occupation: Insurance consultant
• Elected office: Lieutenant governor since 2006; member of state Senate, 1996-2005; member of Hanover County Board of Supervisors, 1992-95
• Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Charleston in West Virginia
• Family: Wife Jean Ann, two sons
• Web site: billbolling.com

RICHMOND -- Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will not run for governor in 2009, choosing instead to seek re-election and support fellow Republican Bob McDonnell for the state's highest office.

Bolling made his surprising announcement Monday at the Capitol, saying that personal and professional obligations would keep him from waging an "all consuming" campaign for governor.

His decision appears to give McDonnell, the attorney general, a clear path to the GOP gubernatorial nomination. And it gives Republicans a better chance to be unified in next year's general election, when the party hopes to win back the governor's mansion after two consecutive Democratic victories.

"I think Bob McDonnell and I are stronger running together than either one of us would have been running individually," Bolling said after announcing his decision at a news conference.

Bolling, one of his party's leading conservative voices, had made little secret of his interest in running for governor and said Monday "it would be a great honor to serve in our state's highest elected office."

But Bolling said he determined that family responsibilities and business commitments would prevent him from running the kind of campaign he considers necessary to win. He said he had been leaning toward seeking re-election as lieutenant governor for several months before making his decision about two weeks ago.

"I do not believe that anyone should seek the office of governor unless they are prepared to make that campaign the most important thing in their life and dedicate their full time and attention to that effort," he said.

Bolling, 50, is a vice president for Riggs, Counselman, Michaels and Downes, an independent insurance agency with offices in Richmond and four other cities. He described the business as "young and growing" and said he could not leave until it has "matured and reached its goals."

Bolling said he will seek another term in his current, part-time job, and remains interested in a future gubernatorial bid.

"If it's meant for me to be governor of Virginia some day, those planets may line up differently four years from now," said Bolling, who served 10 years in the Senate before his 2005 election as lieutenant governor.

Bolling said he discussed his decision with McDonnell before making it public. McDonnell issued a statement endorsing Bolling's re-election bid, saying, "We are friends who share the same values, and the same commitment to solving problems, making government work better, and improving quality of life for all our citizens."

McDonnell has meticulously built a network of supporters throughout the state, but Bolling's decision should enable the attorney general to conserve resources for the general election while two Democrats fight it out for their party's nomination next year.

In an e-mail sent to supporters after Bolling's announcement, McDonnell wrote that his alliance with Bolling will give the ticket "a significant and powerful advantage" in the general election.

"Bill will have a significant and visible role in my campaign," McDonnell wrote. "He will not only be my running mate, he will be a trusted advisor and sounding board."

Republican leaders agreed and said the party will benefit from McDonnell and Bolling working together.

"I think it's huge and I really appreciate Bill Bolling doing this," said House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.

Griffith said Bolling's announcement "creates more pressure on Democrats" to settle on their 2009 nominee. Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, already has announced plans to run for governor. Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, is building staff and traveling the state in preparation for a statewide campaign.

Deeds said Bolling's decision may help Republicans but "doesn't change a thing about what I have to do." And he dismissed suggestions that a nominating contest could be destructive for Democrats.

"I don't think we're in any danger of splintering," said Deeds, who lost to McDonnell by 360 votes in the 2005 election for attorney general.

Moran spokesman Jesse Ferguson noted that U.S. Sen. Jim Webb was elected in 2006 after enduring a June primary battle.

"If you look at recent primaries, there's no reason to assume it weakens the ticket," Ferguson said.

Bolling said the desire for GOP unity was not the reason for his decision to forgo the governor's race, but acknowledged that "it clearly is a benefit that comes to the party."

The party's chances of winning are greater, Bolling said, "than if Bob McDonnell and I were out there fighting with each other until June."