Va. Gov. Takes Steps Towards Presidential Run

[norml]

Va. Gov. Takes Steps Towards Presidential Run
Warner Forms PAC, Hires Former Gore Aide

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 10, 2005; 11:06 AM

RICHMOND, June 10 -- Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) is forming a federal political action committee and has hired a former top aide to Vice President Al Gore to advise him on national politics, the governor's top political aide in Virginia said.

The new PAC, which has not been named, will allow Warner to begin raising money for a possible run at the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 while he finishes out his term in Virginia. The PAC will be announced formally in July or August, said Mary A. "Mame" Reiley, the director of Warner's One Virginia PAC.

Warner has raised millions for One Virginia, which reported a balance of $1.6 million as of April 1. But federal law prohibits the governor from spending money raised in his state PAC on a federal campaign. Virginia does not put limits on campaign contributions from individuals or corporations.

Reiley said Warner, a multi-millionaire who is limited to one term as governor, has also hired Monica Dixon, Gore's former deputy chief of staff, to be the federal PAC's first part-time consultant.





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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/10/AR2005061000841.html

[UCLA Dem]

1. What do we know about him? Does he have the right stuff for a prez run??

Is he charismatic, quick on his feet etc??

[rateyes]

3. If you can get elected as Democratic governor in Virginia..

after George Allen, and the rat-bas***d "no car tax," Gilmore that followed him...even after the Repukes had taken control of the state legislature...having been vilified by the Falwell/Robertson bunch that lynched McCain there, and helped deliver the aforementioned slimeballs. I believe he could put that state back in the Democratic win column. As far as "centrist," "progressive," "liberal," and that kind of stuff--don't know much about him. But, I don't think he's a "roll over" and take it kind of guy.

[demnan]

4. Warner is a centralist Democrat

He isn't against guns (important issue in the south) but he does support Democratic social issues. He is well known for his emphasis on fiscal responsibility. Virginia is one of the economically healthiest states in the nation, even under a disaster like Bush.

[spooky3]

21. Fiscal mgmt and ability to persuade some Repubs to work with him

are among his perceived strengths. His economic achievements are even more noteworthy when you know what a disaster he inherited from the Republican idiot who preceded him (Gilmore).

[BagEnd]

5. "Maybe", "yes" and "yes"

He's certainly not a liberal's liberal, but how does a Democrat win a state like VA if he is?

He's a sucessful businessman, and popular governor (in a "red" state) who could win other southern states.

This comes as close to the only "formula" for success we've produced in decades (at the national level).

If VA's Constitution allowed him to run for a second term (so his whitehouse bid would be toward the later part of his second term in office) he would be our best candidate. As it is, he's a longshot... but if he got the nomination he's be a strong candidate.

[underpants]

6. Self made guy. First to go to college. Sold cell phones door to door

WAY back in the day. He built that business into a wireless company (I think) and made tons of money.

Good guy too.

[BagEnd]

7. Agreed

He's well spoken, and he deals with hot partisan issues without the anger/fire that damages other candidates (and of course pleases the fringes of both party bases). I think Obama has a similar style.

[underpants]

13. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[demokatgurrl]

15. Are you kidding? Bush has set the bar so low that as long

as he can walk and/or talk and/or chew gum, he's qualified.

[phylny]

24. I lived in Virginia for four years, and used to listen to Mark Warner

on "Ask the Governor" on WTOP-News Radio. He was always thoughtful, he's well-spoken, and seemed to operate above the fray. He's young, handsome (hey, it doesn't hurt), smart, apparently clean-living, and did a wonderful job for Virginia when I lived there. I would welcome his candidacy - I really, really like him.

[rateyes]

2. Self-delete

[commander bunnypants]

8. Nice guy

good politician.

Dont think he would make it this time around though

CB

[abluelady]

9. He's Very Much a Centrist

But as someone else said, how else does a Dem win in a red state? He did recently veto off-shore drilling which made the environmentalists very happy. I'm not sure he is strong enough as an individual. I'm not sure enough that being a good governor is enough to be a good president.

I would prefer seeing him take over George Allen's senate seat at this point and think about the presidency later on.

[commander bunnypants]

10. that is a good point

Allen is justscary


CB

[Midlodemocrat]

12. Amen to that.

So is his wife.

[WatchWhatISay]

31. Dems dont win in red states

Thats why they are red
Why would they vote for a Dem?

[BornLeft]

33. I do not know, but perhaps you can

could tell me how many senators have become pres?

I believe it would be the wrong route to take as the voters do not seem to elect ex-senators to pres.

[Sgt. Baker]

11. I live in VA

I don't care for Warner at all. Specifically for one of his stances. He has helped ease restrictions on new development and is pushing the urban sprawl agenda against the wishes of the citizens of the counties these restrictions are being eased in. For example, in Loudoun county the new home restrictions for land were eased from 20 acres per house to 5 acres. This is so that large land holders can sell off bits and pieces of their land to developers and make more money off it while killing the reason people move to that county. Open spaces and nature. He supports large corporate developers and the rich getting richer over the peoples wishes. He's shady even though I agree with some of his positions. If you look at his position on certain issues he is incredibly vague, particularly with things like oil and energy.

[lynne]

19. I'm in VA, too, and am wondering -

- if it was Warner that had to do with the easing of restrictions on new development from 20 to 5 acres in Loudoun or if it was the Loudoun Co. Board of Supervisors that were responsible for that? I'm not in Loudoun but was of the impression that it was the BOS that made those decisions per county.

VA is politically unique. While VA historically votes red in a Presidential election, we have had a majority of Democratic governors. Since 1982, 4 democrats and 2 republicans. In the last 50 years VA elected 8 democratic governors and 5 republican governors. From 1874 to 1970 there were only Democratic governors - almost a 100 year run.

[spooky3]

22. I had the same question. What evidence is there that Warner had

anything to do with the Loudoun County development battles?

[phylny]

25. I lived in Loudoun for four years, and my impression was that the

"density packing" in the east was due to the power of the Middleburg/horse country rich folks and the local politicians rather than Warner.

We moved in June of 2004, and when I visited the South Riding area this past April, I was flabbergasted at the increase in traffic in the almost-year since we've left. The traffic on Route 50 at 6 p.m. looked so bad, I thought we were on Route 66.

[Sgt. Baker]

32. actually

the middleburg community collects a legal defense fund from residents every year to fight off the loosening of zoning restrictions like this. Middleburg is BIG BIG money. My father-in-law lives there and contributes to this fund every year. They fought off Disney about 10 years ago.

It was probably more the local politicians but Warner supports growth and development of rural areas including Loudon and he did nothing to stop it.

[lynne]

37. You think Rt. 50 is bad now -

- wait until they "calm" it! There is actually a plan at VDOT to put in "calming" on Rt. 50 from Paris through Middleburg - possibly to Gilbert's Corner but I'm not sure. This "calming" consists of adding speed bumps and little islands that the traffic will have to navigate around to keep the speed limit and traffic down. I've even heard that they plan to REMOVE the small stretch of dual lane before Middleburg and put in a single lane with those islands for this project.

All because the wealthy will not part with a bit of their land to bypass the towns of Aldie, Middleburg, Atoka and Upperville. Of course, the merchants of Middleburg wouldn't want to lose the revenue the traffic brings.

Now - in knowing the traffic of that region and the numbers that commute from the Winchester area to DC - I'm predicting that this will have more a "road rage" effect than "calming" and will serve to increase - rather than decrease - accidents. The sad part is that this is a VDOT project - not a local project. ALL Virginian's get to pay for this folly.

[eissa]

14. Very much a Clinton dem

Which he pretty much has to be in order to be governor of VA. Though more centrist for my taste, his kind -- white southern male Christian -- is the only kind we can run to actually win in 2008.

[Virginian]

27. A funny thing about the primaries...

Neo-con Jerry Kilgore is trying to ride on Mark Warner's coat tails to win the primary next week. He will probably be the Republican candidate for Governor in the November elections. He talks about what "WE" have accomplished when he means what Mark Warner has accomplished.

[Virginian]

28. He's not southern. Born in Illinois.

Virginia likes to have home grown boys in the Gov'nahs Mansion. It was amazing that he could win here since he wasn't born here and didn't grow up here.

[pebzie]

16. Check out these sites

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Governor/GovBioHome.html

http://www.kidscommonwealth.virginia.gov/CapitolLife/WarnerBio.asp

[bluestateguy]

17. I'd be happy to support him

but right now my first choice is Wesley Clark.

[StevieM]

18. Didn't Warner block DNA testing that could have exhonerated....

someone who was executed? The right-wing was opposed to letting DNA evidence shed some additional light on a case that was already settled. (In other words, the guy had been executed). Warner sided with them and fought in the courts to stop the DNA testing from being allowed. Does anyone here remember this?

Steve

[spooky3]

23. why not google this info? The following link from Warner's website

provides some info on the case I think you may be thinking of. It was the poor quality of the DNA sample that was the primary issue.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/May05/0506.htm

There are lots of other sources on his site--just search using "DNA."

[Strawman]

20. I don't know about him

His big critique of Kerry recently was that Kerry didn't differ from the liberal orthodoxy on a single issue (not true). Is that what he's going to run on? I'm like the Republicans on 7 issues and the other guy is only like the Republicans on 3. Yippidy-fucking-doo. What a savior.

[BenDS]

26. Warners one of our better potential candidates

Its too early to endorse a candidate for president but I think Warner would be one of the better ones. Hes electable and his ability to pass tax reform with Republican support will be sorely needed to clean up the fiscal mess b*sh has created. My only reservations are his relative lack of experience in political office (hes only served four years) and the fact that hes only run two races (96 vs. Sen. Warner and the governors one) and won one, but these are easily outweighed by his positive qualities as a candidate and leader. Also, this November's Virginia gubernatorial election to replace him will indicate how willing red state voters are to back up their approval of the Warner administration with their votes.

[Roland99]

29. Well, I'll be. And guess who was just at the Bilderberg Conf.???

[wisteria]

30. He strikes me as being similar to John Edwards.

In appearance mostly. Does his appeal go beyond that fact that he is from a Southern state and he is a moderate with the typically acceptable wife? I don't know why, but the term cookie cutter candidate comes to mind.

[usregimechange]

34. I hate to be this way but will his looks prevent him from being

able to compeat nationaly?

[usregimechange]

35. Not really a John Edwards

[dionysus]

36. he looks like Blair! lololol

n/t