Mark Warner Heading for the Senate?

Just a hunch, but listening to Warner talk, his present passion tilts toward the national arena. Yes, he called the Virginia governorship "the best job in America." But he spoke most convincingly about India and China, not Richmond and Grundy. His principal theme: We are at "a critical time in our nation's history... a moment of remarkable, transformational change," and the future belongs to leaders who will "make a bold audacious 'ask' of the American people."

Speaking "most convincingly about India and China" sure makes it sound like Warner's itching to move up to the national scene.  That means, obviously, the U.S. Senate, unless the Democratic Presidential nominee selects him as their running mate.  Meanwhile, Warner is vowing

With more than $1 million in his federal Forward Together political-action purse and about $400,000 in his state political account, Warner promised a "potentially unprecedented" effort to elect Democrats. From a governor who left office in early 2006 with an 80 percent approval rating, and who's done nothing to diminish that popularity since, those are fighting words.

In other words, Virginia Republicans had better watch out this year.  Before Mark Warner gets to take on global warming, national education policy, and all that other interesting stuff in the U.S. Senate, he's got a little unfinished business to take care of right here in the Commonwealth.

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