Mark Warner (D-Virginia) for President '08

[Emboldened Chimp]

He's a governor in a southern state, young, presidential, and, if he wins re-election in '06, could turn into a viable candidate. I don't know much about him other than what I could gleen from his sit, but I think we should take a look at him first. We need a governor to win the next time, and, unfortunately, pickin's are slim.

Thoughts from DUers in VA?

[JI7]

1. i don't think he can run for re-election

i believe virginia only allows 1 term for governor.

[The Great Escape]

2. I Thought Governor Of VA Was a One Term Deal...

maybe I'm wrong. I work in VA, I should know that. I thought he will probably run against Allen for Senate in 2006.

[Emboldened Chimp]

3. I wasn't aware of that...

If true, that sucks.

[theboss]

9. It really hurts the national aspiration of our governors

The rumor is that he will go after Allen.

Regardless, he could still run in 2008.

[spooky3]

13. I would prefer that he go after Allen.

[CTD]

4. Yup. VA is one term only for gov.

He'll be out of office WAY before **.

[Emboldened Chimp]

5. Shit. Back to the drawing board.

[The Great Escape]

7. I See Him Probably Running Against George Allen in 2006...

do you think?

[Tweed]

29. Love it, let's go for it

[The Great Escape]

30. Watching Allen Go Down Would Be a Pure Joy!

[theboss]

6. He can't run for re-election but would be solid in '08

All the better? The NRA ENDORSED him last time. They can't bury him.

[Emboldened Chimp]

10. Just out of curiosity, how is he as a governor?

Is he popular, well-liked, a good governor?

[kwolf68]

17. Yes for the most part

There are some who think anyone with a “D” beside their name is Satan spawn, but I know of several Republicans who like what he has done.

He is moderate though. Mark Warner would be a real winner with the DLC folks.

Thing is…If we go get a Southern guy, he damn well better be good, because a moderate Democrat will NOT inspire the base, while a Liberal Democrat WILL inspire their base.

I hate to say it, but I think we are SOL. It took America about 25 years to fuck up enough after Lincoln was killed to really move in a progressive direction (lead by a Rep-Teddy Roosevelt I may add). After children are disposed, workers are enslaved, a select few oligarchs are running the government, the environment is in decay, the wealth distribution becomes increasingly obscene, institutional racism returns, monopolies rule the day, and abject poverty about we will be ripe for a Wellstone type Democrat.

The next 4 years or longer will be ugly as shit.

[theboss]

18. Very popular, I think

I'm in Northern VA so any Dem governor is going to have goodwill up here. But he played well in the Tidewater region to the military folk and seems to do okay in coal country.

Virginia is a very tough state to govern as you have about four relatively big, very distinct regions. And our tax system is a mess at the moment.

But he's got a balanced budget through, the economy of Northern VA has bounced back well since the Dot-Com bubble burst, and he has not turned gay yet.

[Joe the Revelator]

24. 68% Approval Rating in Virginia

nt

[yellowcanine]

8. No reelection....VA governors can only serve one term.

[DaveinMD]

11. Warner

is a good governor and very popular. He's exactly the kind of candidate we need.

[Thrill]

12. Mike Easley

a charming moderate Governor.

And yes he would carry NC

[DaveinMD]

15. Easley

didn't he push a pretty big tax increase a couple of years back? That could hurt him.

[Blasphemer]

14. Maybe....

I say we groom as many Southern Dems as possible. It may not matter in '08 but it sure can't hurt.

[redherring]

16. I'm from Northern VA and I like Mark Warner

I will bet that if he runs for president, he will carry VA in a landslide.

[dolstein]

19. Sorry, I grew up in VA. That's not true.

Mark Warner might -- MIGHT -- carry Virginia in a presidential election. But as Al Gore and John Edwards can tell you, getting elected to state wide office and carrying a state in a presidential election are two very different things.

There's NO WAY that Warner would win Virginia in a landslide.

[Joe the Revelator]

26. He has a 68% approval rating in VA....

He'd carry VA in 2008.

Hell, any dem may carry VA in 2008

[The Great Escape]

20. He Actually Seems Very Popular in SW Virginia as Well...

very well liked.

[RinaJ]

21. He better get out on the national stage, NOW

so America can see what he's got. We can't just pop these guys onto the radar screen around primary time, Americans need to form a relationship with them starting today.

[placton]

22. Yep, let's nominate another southern, conservative

Gee, I will go all out for this guy - instead of the real Republican. We need to build a liberal party - or there will be no Dems left

[Joe the Revelator]

27. Mark Warner is not a "conservative"

but keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better about losing.

[DaveinMD]

28. the last southern governor we nominated won

Do you remember Bill Clinton. Warner has that ability.

[PopSixSquish]

23. Unfortunately, VA Only Allows 1 Term as Governor

so he wouldn't have a position to run from. But it would do the Democratic party good to take a long, hard look at his campaign in 2002, he did a lot of things right.

[ArtVandaley]

25. Better idea . . .

Run for Senator in 2006 against George Allen. Allen is a big Neo-con, and getting him out of politics would be a HUGE victory, for he could be thinking about 2008.

[mosin]

31. Mark Warner

However he keeps his visibility up after his term as governor is over, Warner would be a credible national candidate for president. He is charming, pro-gun, moderate, and nationally sellable.

Bush got a disturbing number of votes in my and my wife's traditionally Democratic families in Texas. An "anti-gun" "liberal" from Massachusetts is not saleable in the south and rural midwest, no matter how many geese he kills. Warner would moot the NRA in the presidential race, and could even get NRA support against anti-gun Republicans like Guiliani or McCain.