Sprouse '08?

The future political prospects of state Sen. Vic Sprouse, R-Kanawha, has become an issue since he ended his tenure as that chamber's minority leader last year.

Commenting on the 2008 options for Secretary of State Betty Ireland, blogger and GOP consultant Gary Abernathy observed last week that "the most interesting scenario to emerge from recent speculation has Betty running for the State Senate from Kanawha County, if Sen. Vic Sprouse decides not to seek reelection."

Earlier that week, Daily Mail columnist and blogger Don Surber had apparently deemed Sprouse a "dead man walking" politically. (I can't readily find the item, but it is commented on here.)

The Charleston Gazette's Phil Kabler mentioned Abernathy's observation in his Monday column. Kabler adds that the scenario Abernathy described would require that "Sprouse will recognize (if he hasn’t already) that his personal life makes him far too damaged goods to mount a successful re-election bid."

Kabler's columns have previously mentioned Sprouse's pending divorce from Amy McKinley. It is also infrequently a topic on McKinley's blog devoted to their son.

Sprouse posted a 1,039 word response on his blog today.