We here at MyDD have been following the 2008 Virginia Senate race, watching in particular whether or not incumbent Republican John Warner is going to seek another term, for quite some time. It was nearly three months ago, in fact, that we passed on the news that Warner had raised just $500 during the first quarter. Now, per a release from his office, it doesn't sound like he did much to raise more than that during the second quarter.

Statement by Senator John W. Warner, R-Va.
2008 Virginia Senate Campaign Fundraising
July 2, 2007

I have consistently stated that I will refrain from fundraising activities for my campaign until I make my decision this coming September to seek reelection in 2008.

I am a traditionalist in believing that I should wait until a campaign begins before asking for financial support.  Accordingly, my second-quarter figures will reflect my traditional approach, and will be available for public review after they are filed in accordance with this month's deadline.

For 25 years, I have hosted an event in June for all Republican Senators who are running for reelection, and I will hold my share of the proceeds from that event until my decision in September.

I have decided to focus until September on pressing Senate business, including an extensive trip to Iraq in August, and will announce my decision about the 2008 campaign in September.

I have been privileged to represent the citizens of the Commonwealth for over 28 years.  Virginians know me.  If I confirm my decision to seek reelection, I have every confidence that I will be able to raise sufficient resources, in addition to what I already have on hand, and activate an organization, enabling me to wage a vigorous campaign leading to Election Day in November 2008.

This is not the language of a Senator thinking about running for reelection in less than 18 months -- and it certainly does not sound like a Senator trying to dispell the rumors, propagated by some including his would-be political heir Rep. Tom Davis, that he is easing into retirement.

As I noted last week, one needs to caution against reading too much into the tea leaves. There have been Senators in the past who have led folks to believe that they will retire only to run again and win by a large margin, and there have been other Senators who have raised quite a bit of money towards their reelection bids before ultimately dropping out.

That said, John Warner does not sound like a man running for reelection. I tried my darndest to try to find a campaign website of his, and after about five minutes quit after having failed. (Are you able to find his campaign site? Does he even have one?) Looking through his official campaign site, he's not spitting out a particularly large number of press releases or other statements, activities that indicate a desire to keep in the public eye and raise one's profile ahead of a reelection bid.

At the least, it's real important to continue to keep an eye on this race in case it ends up being an open seat this year. Per Adam B over in Breaking Blue (quoting The Washington Times), former Democratic Governor Mark Warner is thinking seriously about either a Senate bid this cycle or another gubernatorial run the following year. The name of Don Beyer, a former Lieutenant Governor who was a big Howard Dean supporter, has also been mentioned. Either way, in the case that this is an open seat this will be a very winnable race for the Democrats.