Bob McDonnell to replace Rick Perry as head of Republican Governors Association

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will replace Texas Gov. Rick Perry as head of the Republican Governors Association now that Perry has entered the presidential race, the RGA announced Monday.

In a statement, McDonnell said the 29 Republican governors in the country are poised to have an "unprecedented" impact in the 2012 elections.

"Republican governors are leading the way in helping the private sector create new jobs, reforming government and getting our economy back on track," he said.

The new post will give McDonnell a platform to enter national politics. As a relatively popular governor in a critical swing state, it's likely the eventual Republican presidential nominee will consider McDonnell for the vice presidential slot.

President Obama was the first Democratic presidential nominee to carry Virginia since 1964. In a Quinnipiac poll released in late July, Mr. Obama's approval rating in Virginia was split, 48 percent to 48 percent.

In an interview with Politico, McDonnell said he'd be "very interested" in joining the 2012 GOP nominee on the ticket. (missing beginning of link)

"I'm not looking for the call," he said. "But I think anybody who is in public life, if a presidential nominee called him and said 'I need your help to win,' it would be a tremendous honor...We'll see. It's going to be seven, eight, nine months before any of these decisions are made."

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