Governor Warner "Southern Star" interview at salon.com

[nickshepDEM]

As you drive south from Washington on Interstate 95, the high-tech corridors of northern Virginia give way to green grass and rolling hills and something that begins to look like the South. Pickups start to outnumber Volvos and VWs, and Starbucks gives way to the "scattered & smothered" comfort of Waffle House.

It's a long way from Washington to Richmond -- and even farther to the rural counties of southern Virginia -- but Mark Warner has covered the ground. The Democrat, a 50-year-old multimillionaire venture capitalist from Indiana by way of Connecticut, got himself elected governor of Virginia in 2001 in large part by reaching out to rural voters who were supposed to be in the Republicans' pocket. Warner sponsored a NASCAR team, used a bluegrass song as his campaign theme, and appealed directly to gun-loving hunters and sportsmen -- and it worked. John Kerry, he is not.

"People in rural America may speak a little slower, but they can spot a phony a mile away," Warner says. "You see other candidates who say, 'Let's just do the optics.' But unless you feel as comfortable hanging out at a country fair or having a beer and eatin' some barbecue as you do at your high-end, high-tech reception, people are going to see through that."

Winning elections is about more than beer and barbecue, of course: Warner says that Democrats have to engage voters in a conversation about the future, particularly the future of rural areas, small towns and midsize cities where the global economy hasn't delivered on its promise. Most of all, he says, Democrats have to give voters hope.

Check out the interview here:

http://www.salon.com/news/lotp/2005/06/13/virginia_governor/index.html

[Bucky]

1. Well I'd vote for him

Warner's a smart pol. I'm sure a buncha folks around here would tag him as a DINO because he goes after rural votes, but I think he's found a winning formula and sure seems to be running the state better than the Republicans ever did.

Of course you KNOW who I'm supporting right now...

[losdiablosgato]

7. For the Democrats to win the south they need to go Popularist

A social moderate progun, popularist, who is anti outsourcing, and for a balanced budget would do very well in the south.

The south once was solid blue, and can be again. But we need to meet them half way on a few things, and give them what they want they are not getting from the rethugs (good, stable jobs).

[SCDem]

9. That is what Dean was

[GainesT1958]

2. He needs to run against George Allen, Jr. first...

And become better-known on the national stage by knocking off a darling of the Right. While, in the process, helping us re-take the Senate. He's just not well-known enough--nor exciting enough in speaking style--to run for president in 2008. Too many better-known candidates will be in that race for him to have a real shot. But he'd be a terrific senator while he bides his time--and develops a higher profile. He can definitely take that seat; he's been far too successful, and helped Virginia in too many ways, not to.

B-)

[nickshepDEM]

3. Warner is an executive not a legislator.

Running for Senate would be a death wish to his political ambitions. If he wins, he will begin to develop the "deadly" voting record. If he loses, his political career is over.

He is by far the most successful Governor in the country, and being chairman of the Nat'l Governors association will help him raise his national profile.

[snowbear]

5. Warner..

I was just going to ask you if he planned to run for U.S. Senate in '06, but it probably does depend on what he decides on a '08 run.

Chalk me up as another one who doesn't know diddly-squat about him.

He didn't do so well on the Daily KOS poll today, but I'll bet it's only because (nationally).. he's still an unknown.

BTW.. they actually aired the results of that Kos poll on CNN today! :wow:

General Clark won the KOS poll with flying colors. :patriot: (**sorry norml!** <---..not! :rofl: :rofl: )

[nickshepDEM]

8. How did Warner fair in the dKos poll? I noticed that he did very well...

in the poll over at MyDD. I think he came in 3rd place behind Clark and Edwards.

[woodleydem]

4. It would be stupid for Warner to run for the Senate in 2006. He can take

his shot in 2008, and if he doesn't get the nomination, he will still have an enhanced national reputation to fall back on. In fact, Warner has said that he may run for Governor of Virginia again in 2009. He should run for the Democratic nomination in 2008, and if he's unsuccessful, he can use his considerable financial resources to move back into the Governor's mansion in 2009. He strikes me as a reform-oriented individual who likes to craft and implement policy. You can't do that as a Senator. He has a proven track record as a governor and seems to genuinely enjoy it.

[fujiyama]

6. Of the centrist candidates

he seems the most compelling choice (by centrist I include Bayh, Warner, Biden, and Hillary).

He seems to have been an effective governor and did a good job with the four years he had there. I would prefer he doesn't run for senate though, mainly because the state still leans republican and a loss would be a death blow for any chances.

[FrenchieCat]

10. I agree that him having been a governor is better than the others

who are Senators.

However, I will continue to note that Warner has absolutely no Foreign policy nor National Security experience.

That would hurt us a great deal in the next election, since the security issue was one of the big issues that lost us 2004. I doubt that things will get really that peaceful by 2007-08. If Osama IS caught, it might help Warner.....but it would really help the Republican party as a whole.

Is Warner planning to find a running mate that will plug that hole in his resume? Will he be able to sell the concept of stating that in the primaries to appease those who think like me?

I think that Warner "sounds" good on paper, until one thinks about the relevant issues. I think that when one thinks of Warner as a good candidate, one is thinking in the mold of what it took to win the 1992 elections, i.e., Bill Clinton. I just don't think that 2008 will be a redux of 1992. I think that a Warner strategy is not the right one for these times....and I think the people in Iowa and NH will realize this after some thought (I hope). If the GOP put up a McCain or Rice or even a Senator that has sat on some "foreign Relations" or "national Security" committees, Warner's lack of experience will be a real problem for Democrats. Such a problem, that might just lose us an election that didn't have to be lost.

[mrgorth]

11. I keep asking pro-Warner folks this

What is Warner's record on gay rights/opinion on civil unions?

[nickshepDEM]

12. Here...

From Virginia Partisans, Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club

Virginia Partisans Applaud Governor Warner's Amendments to Anti-Gay "Marriage Affirmation Act"

The Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club today applauded Virginia Governor Mark Warner's amendments to the anti-gay “Marriage Affirmation” bill.

The bill, HB 751, patroned by Republican Delegate Robert Marshall (Prince William), not only re-states Virginia's existing ban on same-sex civil unions, but would also prohibit and nullify any “partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage.” This language could eliminate the right of same-sex couples in Virginia to execute a will, sign a living will, craft custody agreements, and each other in the hospital.

The Governor's amendments are a parliamentary partial veto, aimed to block the bill, by proposing to strike the sections which would actually change Virginia law, specifically the contract language. If a majority of either the Virginia Senate or House of Delegates reject the amendments, the bill would require a 2/3s vote of both bodies to override the Governor's veto.

Partisans President Josh Israel explained, “Governor Warner showed true leadership by opposing these unconstitutional, unnecessary, and unconscionably bigoted restrictions. Once again, the Governor has shown that, unlike the Republican legislature and Attorney General, he is committed to ‘One Virginia' that includes and respects all of its citizens. By proposing these amendments, he is preventing this hateful and hasty legislation.”

Israel added, “We would encourage the Republican legislature to stop focusing so much of its attention on demagoguery and division - and to focus more of its attention on solving the budget crisis it has created.”

The Virginia Partisans, a nonprofit organization and a chapter of the National Stonewall Democrats, serve as a channel for the participation and involvement of gays and lesbians in the Democratic Party throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

For more information on the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, visit www.vapartisans.org

For the Governor's Statement, visit

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=041&typ=bil&val=HB751

To read the legislation, visit

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+ful+HB751ER