Today, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner informally announced his candidacy for the US Senate in 2008, to replace outgoing GOP Senator John Warner (no relation). Video of the announcement can be seen by clicking here. A formal announcement will follow in the coming weeks.
As the Washington Post reported today, Gov. Warner, who bowed out of the presidential race last October, is effectively taking himself out of consideration as a potential VP pick next year. Warner’s candidacy has the potential to be the fourth state-wide Democratic win in once-solidly red Virginia since 2001. Warner won the governor’s race in 2001, Tim Kaine (Warner’s LG) was elected governor in 2005, and Jim Webb beat George Allen for the Senate seat in 2006. A Warner win would, of course, bolster the Democratic ranks in the upper chamber of Congress.
Warner in Virginia and Kerrey in Nebraska give the Democrats head starts in two starts that often give us trouble, and two quite possible takes from the GOP column. Shaheen does the same in New Hampshire.
I'm not saying that I like Kerrey or even Shaheen that much, but I like them far better than Hegel or Sununu.
Warner left office in 2005 with high favorability ratings (around 60-65%) and a nice list of accomplishments considering he needed to persuade a GOP-dominated legislature to get his agenda through. He’s proven he can pick up legislative seats for the Dems while working in a pragmatic bipartisan manner. Indeed, he was my first choice for President until he backed out last year. Without a doubt, Warner will run unopposed in the Democratic Primary.
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What will be interesting is who the GOP picks to run against him. Right now, it looks like a two-way race between moderate Congressman Tom Davis and has-been right-wing former Governor and brief ’08 prez candidate Jim Gilmore. Davis has proven he can raise serious money and would likely be the more competitive candidate against Warner. Gilmore faces an uphill battle in the primary because he has difficulty raising funds, he’s not particularly well-liked by some GOP insiders based on what they consider to be his lackluster performance as a former RNC chair, and because he presided over Virginia’s decent into a huge deficit as governor. Indeed, it was that budget mess Warner worked with the legislature to turn around into a multi-billion dollar surplus- which helped Warner’s popularity skyrocket and make Virginia the “best-managed state” according to Governing magazine in (I think) 2004. I think Gilmore would get demolished in a general election against Warner based on record alone.
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Davis will be a tougher candidate to beat, though he can be easily tied to the administration.
I was disappointed when Warner exited the race for Prez because I see Virginia as a great example for what a rejuvenated Democratic party can do.
Deval could take a lesson from this soon to be former Red State and it starts with the legacy of former Governor and first back Governor since reconstruction Douglas Wilder.
Just think Warner and the Dem's take over from the Republicans, raise taxes and continue to gain steam in the state.
In case people forget Doug Wilder was an early proponent of “performance based government” and the citizens of Virginia turned to the Dem's when they saw that the hot air of mindless Republican tax cuts actually hurt their economy and that a well run government is the good partner.
I meant to type “black” not back Governor.
…I lived in Arlington VA for a couple of years in the mid 1970s. From what I can tell, their taxes (combined, progressive income, sales and property) were higher than MA’s.
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VA has two major industries. Federal government, nestles around DC. And the Norfolk naval base complex. Both of which suck money from other parts of the US.