According to Time Magazine's Mike Allen, appearing yesterday on NBC's Meet the Press:
Democrats are trying to find someone to respond to the State of the Union address. A lot of people obviously wanted Congressman Murtha. Democrats have decided that he can't because he doesn't speak to everyone. So now I would look for a new face, like Governor-elect Tim Kaine of Virginia to give that response.
This is fascinating news if true, and a sign of how significant the national Democratic Party views Tim Kaine's victory here in Virginia a few weeks ago. Personally, I'd love to see Tim Kaine give the Democratic rebuttal to George W. Bush's State of the Union address a month or two from now. If not Kaine, then how about Mark Warner? Or maybe a dual-rebuttal team of Kaine and Warner? Works for me...how about you?
P.S. Looks like Kaine speechwriters are going to be keeping busy for the foreseeable future! :)