Va. Governor Kaine to Become DNC Chairman

[camera obscura]

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will become chairman of the Democratic National Committee later this month, serving as the top political messenger for Barack Obama's administration even while he finishes his final year in the governor's mansion, several sources said.

Kaine, who emerged as one of Obama's vice presidential finalists this summer, will operate from Richmond in a part-time capacity until January 2010, when he will become the full-time DNC chairman. Kaine is constitutionally barred from running for reelection.

A personal friend of the president-elect, Kaine is a gregarious chief executive who is known to relish political combat and helped put Virginia in the Democratic column for the first time in almost 50 years.

Obama transition aides declined to comment today, and Kaine aides did not return calls seeking comment. Two sources said Obama will announce his choice of Kaine for the post later this week.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/04/AR2009010401139.html?hpid=topnews

(I just posted this in GD but I realized it was appropriate here too)

[Captain Hilts]

1. He's a good man, but not a progressive. Probably a good choice. nt

[democrattotheend]

2. Cool. Good choice, IMO

He's a little centrist for my taste but he's been a pretty good governor and he was the first governor outside Obama's home state to endorse him. I was glad he wasn't picked for VP but I'm glad to see him get something.

[AtomicKitten]

3. Interesting choice. I'm cool with it.

[Arkana]

4. Huh. Interesting choice, but being friends with Obama I think we can at least

count on him to be a proponent of the 50-state strategy.

[Occam Bandage]

5. Interesting enough. Kaine is a very close ally to Obama.

Add that to the number of Senators Obama is putting in his cabinet, and the number of potential rivals he's handcuffing with subordinate job slots, and it looks like he's getting set to take nearly unprecedented control of the Democratic political apparatus.

[w4rma]

6. I'm pleasantly impressed. That's not bad at all. He may make a great successor to Dean. (nt)

[Cha]

7. Kaine has a high

bar set for him from the retiring Chairman Dean. Best of Good Wishes to Tim Kaine.

[VADem11]

8. I like him

He's worked very hard for the party in Virginia and he's a good messenger on the talk shows.

Here's a good WaPo article talking about how Kaine has helped the Virginia state party: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110501900.html?sid=ST2008110502731&s_pos=

[BuyingThyme]

9. But why was he Constitutionally barred from running for reelection?

Sounds like he's got some skeletons in his closet.

[slick8790]

11. Because VA governors are term limited to one term. n/t

[BuyingThyme]

15. I was just joking.

:)

[VADem11]

12. It's always been like that

Virginia's constitution only allows 1 term for the governor.

[BuyingThyme]

16. Just kidding.

:hi:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

13. My understanding is Va. gov only gets one term?

I may be wrong on that

[BuyingThyme]

17. Yes, I'm sure it's a term limit thing.

:hi:

[RichGirl]

21. To the contrary...

There is not the slightest stain on that man...he may be the cleanest of all politicians.

[dpbrown]

10. Just don't screw up what Governor Dean built

The day the Democrats go back to "50% plus 1" is the day they launch themselves into obscurity.

[brianna69]

14. Great choice

[phoenixriz]

20. Kaine is a Jesuit graduate

He went to school here in KC at Rockhurst and as a young man spent some time in Central or South america with the Jesuits as a Missionary. He is very fluent in Spanish. His parents still live here.

[firedupdem]

18. Good Choice. I'm sure he'll do a great job. n/t

[DCBob]

19. Kaine will be great.

I have been impressed whenever I have heard him interviewed. He is a moderate but that is not a bad thing... IMO.

[PM7nj]

22. Kaine may not be as progressive as Dean but I think he will be just as effective.

Kaine has been a good governor and I think he will be a great DNC chair.

[cali]

25. The DNC chair under a dem WH is simply

a yes man who does what the President wants. That's the way it always works.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. Another DLCer appointed by Obama

:toast:

[Barack_America]

24. Excellent choice. Obama's reelection landslide looks almost certain now.

Kaine knows how to get shit done. And he knows how to get it done in the South.