A stunning upset loss in last year's election ended Virgil H. Goode Jr.'s six-term grip on the 5th District U.S. House of Representatives seat.
Since being unseated by Tom Perriello, Goode apparently has participated quietly in political functions, but not much has been heard from him.
On Wednesday, however, Goode reappeared on the political radar as he filed a statement of candidacy form with the Federal Election Commission.
The move doesn't mean that Goode will run in the 2010 election.
He said he's keeping his options open.
"It enables one to look at the situation and to raise money and spend money. But I haven't decided whether I'll run," Goode said in a telephone interview Thursday.
He said he has remained active in political circles, and plans to help Republican delegates in upcoming campaigns.
On Thursday, Jessica Barba, press secretary for Perriello, D-Ivy, said they'd heard of Goode's filing.
She said they had no comment.
Gerry Scimeca, communications director for the Virginia Republican Party, was glad to hear of the filing.
"I think that's great news," he said. "I think a lot of people will be excited about that."
Scimeca said Goode is still immensely popular in the 5th District and that he has seen the former representative at several events.
He took a shot at Perriello, President Barack Obama and other Democrats, saying that "with the profligate spending" by the federal government, Goode would be a welcome sight come the 2010 election.
Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said Goode's move is not unexpected.
"That's not a formal announcement," he said. "It's a placeholder, it keeps the door open."
He added that Goode's filing is "an important signal" that he is serious about a potential run in 2010.
"And it makes sense. It was the closest race in the country," Sabato explained.
Perriello was helped by Obama and the surge in voter turnout, Sabato said.
"That may not happen again," he noted.
Perriello's upset victory didn't become official until December, when a recount of more than 316,860 votes confirmed it.
The two-day recount covered votes cast in 22 localities, including Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene and Nelson.
The original results had Perriello winning by 745 votes. The recount lowered his margin of victory to 722.
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