Democrats making big push in Virginia

Tyler Whitley
Published: August 13, 2008

RICHMOND — Because Mark Warner is in, is Tim Kaine out?

The selection of former Gov. Mark R. Warner as the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 26 is a boost for Warner and could help Sen. Barack Obama carry Virginia, Democrats said Wednesday.

But others speculated that Warner’s prominent role at the convention in Denver diminishes the chances that Obama will pick Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine as his running mate.

“The leaders of the party have chosen to groom Mark Warner for national prominence,” said Robert Denton, a professor of political communications at Virginia Tech. “It also shows that Virginia is really in play.”

Denton thinks Warner, who is running for the U.S. Senate and is far ahead of Republican Jim Gilmore in the polls, will provide important coattails to Obama as he tries to win Virginia’s 13 electoral votes.

“Warner is more valuable in delivering Virginia at this point than Tim Kaine,” Denton added. He said he never thought Kaine would be Obama’s choice for vice president.

But because Kaine does not yet have a speaking role at the convention, Aug. 25-28, some Democratic bloggers speculated the governor still could get his turn on the convention’s third night — as the vice-presidential nominee.

In picking Warner for the keynote speech, the Obama campaign cited his bipartisan, jobs-producing record as governor from 2002 to 2006.

“His work creating jobs in Southwest and Southside Virginia is a model for the rest of the country,” said David Plouffe, the Obama campaign manager.

“It’s that kind of spirit and innovation that resulted in his selection as keynote speaker on a night when we will be discussing how to renew America’s promise.”

Warner said he would “showcase some of the initiatives we launched here in Virginia and the results we achieved in our effort to help people compete in a changing economy.”

Warner’s prime-time televised speech will precede an address by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, whom Obama narrowly defeated for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Democrats often use the keynote address to spotlight a politician they view as an up-and-comer.

Obama, then an obscure state senator from Illinois, was the keynote speaker four years ago. That speech propelled him into the national spotlight.

“This will be a great opportunity for the country to see Governor Warner and Virginia on the national stage,” said Charlie Kelly, executive director of Moving Virginia Forward, Kaine’s political committee.

Kelly declined to speculate on what the Warner selection might do to the potential vice-presidential candidacy of his boss.

“America needs more common-sense leaders like Mark Warner and Barack Obama, who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work across the aisle to get things done,” said C. Richard Cranwell of Vinton, the state Democratic party chairman.

The keynote address is “a great honor for Mark Warner and Virginia,” said Marjorie Clark of Chesterfield County, the 7th District Democratic chairwoman. “They only put people they respect in that high-profile position, like Obama four years ago.”

She said the selection of Warner shows Obama wants to appeal to the center of the political spectrum. Republicans say Obama is a liberal.

Virginia has not backed a Democratic nominee for president since 1964, but analysts expect this year’s race between Obama and Republican John McCain to be close.

Gilmore’s campaign spokeswoman, Ana Gamonal, said the choice of Warner “is an honor for him.”

But, she added, “it puts to rest the false claim that he is bipartisan. What will he say to 20,000 liberal Democrats that will sound bipartisan to the working people of Virginia?”

Tyler Whitley is a staff writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

What becomes of the Dems’ keynote speakers?

Democrats often use the convention keynote address to anoint a politician they see as a rising star. Here is what became of some other Democratic keynote speakers.

2004: Illinois state Sen. Barack Obama. He is now the party’s presumptive presidential nominee.

2000: Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr. He lost a Senate race in 2006.

1996: Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh. Now a senator, he is on Obama’s short list for vice president.

1992: Georgia Gov. Zell Miller; Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey; Barbara Jordan, former congresswoman from Texas. Bradley sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2000 and lost to Al Gore.

1988: Ann Richards, Texas state treasurer. She was elected governor in 1990 and lost in her re-election bid to Republican George W. Bush in 1994.

1984: New York Gov. Mario Cuomo. He considered bids for president but never ran. He lost the governorship to Republican George E. Pataki in 1994.

Compiled by Times-Dispatch librarian/researcher Wendy Addison