Oh man, this is pure gold.

Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) said today he is considering entering the race for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate.

Imagine a bruising, three-way convention slaughterfest between Chris Saxman, Jim Gilmore, and Bob Marshall. If I were Tom Davis, I might just jump back in for the heck of it–after all, the conservative vote might be split up. Either way, any of them would have a tough time beating Mark “70% Approval” Warner, who at this point is pulling the same margins at this point against someone Virginians know very well (Jim Gilmore) as George Allen was pulling against a complete unknown (Jim Webb).

Here’s a choice quote:

But Marshall, a former Democrat who home-schooled his five children, argues he could solidify the GOP base and reach out to independents in a general election.

“The advantage I have is I think like a Democrat but act like a Republican,” Marshall said.

I’m in complete agreement that he’ll solidify the base–the base would go wild. Marshall will be an interesting force in the coming months, and if he plays his cards right, he could become the patron saint of Republicans disgruntled with the current leadership. Marshall has an, ahem, iconoclastic streak that few, if any, in the General Assembly can match. Notice the firebomb of a resolution Marshall took to the House Republican Caucus.

Either way, he will lose spectacularly in the general election. Bob Marshall as a nominee will do us the spectacular favor of ramming up turnout in Arlington and Alexandria. Seriously.

I’ll bring the popcorn.