Warner Won't Be VP. Will Kaine Be AG?

By: The Grey Havens
Published On: 6/15/2008 8:24:14 AM

Who will Obama pick as VP?  Three Virginians, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Jim Webb, have been mentioned as possible running mates, but as of yesterday, that number has dropped to two.

Warner is out:

Former Gov. Mark R. Warner on Saturday removed himself from consideration as a vice presidential running mate for Democrat Barack Obama.

Warner clarified his intentions for the first time as he accepted the Virginia Democratic Convention's nomination for a U.S. Senate race this fall.

"I have not sought and I will not accept any other opportunity," Warner told cheering convention delegates.

That's pretty specific.  

Even though Obama/Warner '08 won't be the top of the ticket, we lucky Virginians will still be voting for both of them (Obama for President, Warner for Senate).  Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming.

Meanwhile, Elaine Eileen at VB Dems is speculating that Obama could install his good friend Tim Kaine as the nations top law-enforcement official: Attorney General.  

Obama and Kaine have be tight since the beginning of time (before it was cool, Iowa). The buzz is that President Obama will pick Kaine to be Attorney General. It's a perfect job for Kaine as opposed to John Edwards because of Kaine's passion for civil rights.

I'm not sure I agree either with this or with the speculation that elevating Bill Bolling to the Governor's mansion would throw Virginia Republicans into a domino effect of losing disarray for the 2009 elections, but the selection itself does seem to make a lot of sense.

Comments



AG? Try John Edwards (Elaine in Roanoke - 6/15/2008 8:27:29 AM)
The "conventional wisdom" is that John Edwards has the best shot at becoming Attorney General.


yeah, that was my thought too (The Grey Havens - 6/15/2008 8:31:00 AM)
Elaine's take on it is that Kaine as AG would be a champion of civil right legislation.  

It's tough to be a democrat these days.  So many great Dems, so few great jobs.

Regardless, we've got to win the White House.



That Rumor Has Been Around Awhile (Scott Surovell - 6/15/2008 10:16:23 AM)
http://www.townhall.com/column...


It just makes no sense to me (aznew - 6/15/2008 10:27:32 AM)
That Kaine would turn over the governorship for a year before an election to an opposing party that is on the ropes. I understand the last year is the weakest in terms of raw power, but I just don't see the sense of throwing any kind of lifeline to the GOP right now that they can rally around (the idea that once in the chair Bolling would not want to give it up and would launch a divisive primary battle against McDonnell, while fun, is pure speculation, and certainly not a reason for Kaine to give up the seat, IMHO).

Also, as far as I know, the Governor has not made his desires known, beyond saying he would do whatever Obama asked, so clearly anything is possible.

One "problem" I see for finding a spot for Kaine in an Obama Administration is, especially if Democrats carry Virginia, that any job other than Secy of State, Defense or AG might not have enough pizzazz for him.

Perhaps some sort of special envoy portfolio in Latin America? I dunno, just free associating here.



I say it's... (unionman - 6/15/2008 10:49:10 AM)
I say John Edwards for AG. Talk about change!


Where will Gov. Kaine land? (JD - 6/15/2008 11:32:14 AM)
I think I'd rather see John Edwards as AG, and I'd rather see Kaine finish out his term.  But I'd also like to see a future in national politics for Gov. Kaine.  Where will he go in 2009?  

Crazy thought ... Supreme Court?  I like the idea of a young civil rights oriented, death penalty opposed Justice who could pay dividends for 30 years.  But, as with Hillary, I'm not sure if it suits his own goals and temperament.  And appointing overt politicians to the Supreme Court has been out of fashion since the Warren Court.