Folks, who replaces John Warner, or even whether John Warner is replaced, is less important to the Commonwealth and ultimately the nation than who the Governor is.  If we are to have any chance of taking back the General Assembly, we need a Democratic governor in 2011.  That will be Mark Warner, if my pipe dreams are realized.  If Tim were to run for the Senate, one of two things would happen.  Either he'd lose and become an instant lame duck in his last year, or he'd win and Bill Bolling would become Governor, with a leg up on getting elected in his own right in 2009.

And for those of you with an exclusively national focus, a different balance of power at redistricting time could permit a number of intriguing possibilities:

1.  Franklin County and Virgil Goode get redistricted into the Ninth against Rick Boucher.

2.  Thelma Davis and Randy Forbes get put in the same district, or Randy Forbes and Eric Cantor perhaps. 

3.  Frank Wolf and Tom Davis fight over some Republican precincts, and one of them loses, making him more vulnerable.

4.  A 12th Congressional District is created (depends on population, but we'll be close) and it comes in a Democratic stronghold, not a Republican one.

There are other possibilities which may seem remote, but probably no more remote than the possibility that George Allen and Tom Bliley would get put in the same district in 1991. 

The redistricting in 2011 is crucial.

of taking back the State Senate this year, so that Dems are guaranteed to have a say in redistricting a few years down the road...

In all honesty, Rick Boucher would wipe the floor with Virgil Goode.

Should Warner not want to run. It's really dissapointing that after one term as Governor you have very little options after.

Tim Kaine could not run for Senate in '08, but should Sen. Webb run for re-election in '12.. he was to wait until '14 to challenge the republican.

2014! That's a pretty long time.

We can take back the J. Warner seat in 2008, with the right candidate.

I will support Mark Warner, that's why I am collecting online signatures to draft him.

Should he publicly decide not to run for Senate (hope he doesn't) than Kaine my man for '08.

Furthermore, I don't understand the whole "Warner would be better as Governor again to run for President"

That just doesn't make any sense to me at all. We don't even know who's going to win in 2008 for sure. And let's say the democrats do win he wouldn't get a shot from anywhere to 8-16years!!!!!

So, what's THAT all about. If Mark Warner wants to run for Governor again in 2009 it's because he wants to be Governor again not because he wants to use it as a launching pad to run for President on some future date.

I still think and believe Mark Warner should run for Senate, if not Tim Kaine. I believe they are the only 2 Democrats in Virginia that could take out John Warner.

Just think about it, a bonafide war hero (webb) almost lost to a racist! People don't understand the politics of Southern and Southwest Virginia.

NOVA may be changing, but not fast enough for progressives, moderates, and Democrats like us.

If we want to win in 2008, we will get behind a candidate who can win just as we did in 2006.

Harris Miller couldn't have beat George Allen. If someone thinks he could have, please give me some of whatever your smoking I think I need it more than you do!

=)

And even though he would be an incumbent Governor in 2009 if Kaine left for the Senate, he'd probably have a primary fight on his hands. I think some Republicans would treat it like an opemn seat. And is there any way Mark Warner doesn't win it back in 2009 if he runs?

So IF John Warner stepped down, I'd be for Kaine running for the seat.

We need someone who can wide statewide in a National type race. Both Tim Kaine and Mark Warner can do that.

But I think there's no chance of that happening from what I've been hearing.

I hear a lot of stuff, about everybody. But it's not in the papers, it's not coming from the horses mouth.

Who's saying what? Until it's public, it's safe to say we don't know and try to convince M. Warner on '08.

I think he's still trying to weigh his options and decide what's the best way to contribute.

That's what I get from his public comments both printed and said to others.

I haven't heard anyone say Mark Warner said "he's not running". Because no one knows that.

Hey, I am going to try to push Mark to run for Senate until he and only he tells me or makes it known to everyone he's not interested.

Until then, let's get him interested!

Warner for U.S. Senate '08
Kaine for a cabinet job in 2009

there's nothing to report that we didn't know 3 months ago.

I think our best hopes are a bruising primary fight for J. Warner, causing him to step down. Hopefully his vote last Sat. on the Iraq debate will help those prospects.

As much as we want him too. Unfortunately the GOP wont let him retire. If he did, this would be very easy.. Warner would surely run and then we can focus on the races this year instead of wondering about Mark not John '08.

on Tim Kaine leaving the Governor's Mansion early to run for Senate is a bit out in left-field.
At this point, I've seen no evidence that there will even be any opposition to Sen. Warner. The most credible hear say at this point would be to assume Gail Parker is running again.

No one is going to challenge Warner? Heck, I'd challenge Warner if I was the correct age.

John Warner is beatable, but it has to be with the right candidate. During the last leg of the Webb campaign Lowell posted the Warner vs. Warner factor.

Mark Warner to no surprise beat John Warner's positive figures by far. And since 1996 Mark Warner has become one of Americas most popular figures (which means national fundraising ability).

But, it's up to Mark Warner to decide to run or not. but the Democratic party isn't going to just let John Warner run unopposed.

I just hope that candidate is Mark Warner.

John Warner may be opposed but it sure as hell isn't going to be by our Governor!!

I still highly doubt Mark Warner has any interest in serving in a legislature, since he made himself as an executive serving in that style making those types of decisions. I don't think its far fetched that Warner comes back in 09 to run again for Governor, based on his incredibly favorable views of the position.

I'm sure John Warner will be opposed, but I'm saying I don't see it as any of our top dogs, and DEFINITELY not Kaine. HA!
Are there really any other big names?? Please no one say Don Beyer...

And he's a perfect example of what happens when you stay out of the game too long.  His endorsemen of Miller did absolutely nothing in the primary.  People don't give a damn about Don anymore.

I'm not sure anyone endorsing Harris Miiler would have changed the fact that he was a limited candidate. You can argue that Beyer didn't make a good decision, but to suggest he's a nobody because his choosen horse didn't win the primary is wrong.

Don Beyer is a decent, honorable man and would make an outstanding US Senator. Virginia would be luckly to have him back in office again.

Good call DanG. I had completely forgotten about the Beyer endorsement. He should stick to what he does best, slashing prices on automobiles!

As for everything else, I merely wanted to remind everyone how ridiculous the scenario of our Governor running for Senate before his term was up was. Democrats know how to govern, and we know how to finish our jobs. Implying Kaine is merely out to get higher office isn't in our best interest, but I understand the speculations game.

As for Warner 08, montoya, have a ball drafting him. I just disagree that the Senate is a good fit for our former Governor.

. . . Jim Webb's name wasn't on anybody's lips.  No one was sure who would run against Allen-- some were hoping for Mark Warner, who ultimately decided to sit out the race, even after Kaine won on his coattails-- but it looked for awhile as if Virginia Dems would have to tuck tail and admit defeat in the form of Harris Miller.  Fortunately, Webb emerged, from practically out of nowhere.  And, yes, his win was close, but that's how it's going to be in Virginia for awhile, as it has become a balancing act between the DC area and the rest of the state.  So, amidst all this speculation, all I can do is hope that another Jim Webb-type candidate will emerge to run against John Warner!