McDonnell on VP Short List for 2012

Republican Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell appeared at fundraising events for GOP candidates around the country in recent weeks, helping to bring in more than $2.5 million. That work could help launch him to a vice presidential bid in 2012 and perhaps a run for the presidency after that, The Hill reports.

McDonnell’s fundraising efforts have come on behalf of a dozen gubernatorial candidates, four Senate candidates and every major Republican campaign committee, according to a spokesman for the governor.

In his home state of Virginia, McDonnell has raised money and campaigned for nine Republican House candidates. His star hasn’t risen as high as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s, who like McDonnell was elected last December. But the Virginia governor is clearly in ascendancy.