Tim Craig's blog has a piece today about Former State Sen. Jay O'Brien's nascent bid for Lt. Governor in 2009.

I find it funny that every time someone brings up Jay O'Brien's name in connection with a statewide office, the first thing they say is something like "but he lost."

For those whose attention spans last only until the next day's headline, this kind of electoral setback might seem a fatal blow. But for those of us who take a longer view, we can find example after example of politicians who have taken their lumps and have returned victorious, much to the surpise of the chattering classes.

Prior to being elected President in 1844, James K. Polk's Presidential aspirations were reportedly sunk after he lost re-election as Governor of Tennessee. Abraham Lincoln lost his first campaign for the state legislature. So did George Allen. Nixon and Reagan lost their first campaigns for President.

What set these candidates and many others throughout our history apart, is that they did not give up after those losses. They did not slink off of the battlefield in disgrace never to be heard from again, but rather they stayed and fought again. And they won.

It is often said that sometimes you learn more by losing than by winning. I say those who write off Jay O'Brien because of one loss are being extremely short sighted. I think his resume is quite impressive and that he could bring a lot to the race. For starters, if the top three Republican candidates in 2009 perform as well in Fairfax county as Jay O'Brien did in his loss, we're likely to sweep those races.

It is way too early to say who should be in front for 2009, but it's also way too early to write anyone off. If Jay O'Brien wants to throw his name into the mix, I say good for him. We need more Republicans with the stones to step back into the ring when they take a punch instead of taking their ball and going home when they don't get their way.