On Virginia Politics



The race to replace the courtly United States Senator John Warner -- if, indeed, he even wants to be replaced -- is getting rather interesting. Hypothetically, at least. The state of Virginia is probably now as interesting as it was in the days of Jamestown, Bacon's Rebellion, or the election of L.Douglas Wilder as the first African-American Governor.

Virginia is in the interesting position of being a "Purple" state -- once reliably Red, but, of late, bewitchingly Blue. Virginia is veering in the opposite direction of Minnesota -- once relaibly blue, but presently trending red (Tough cookies, Al Franken). From our favorite Dickenian villain, Robert Novak in today's Townhall:

"With 80-year-old Republican Sen. John Warner not disclosing until late this year whether he will seek a fifth term in 2008, Rep. Tom Davis is building strong statewide support for the GOP nomination if Warner does not run.

"Conservative activists are not happy with the prospective nomination of Davis, who has a lifetime 70 percent American Conservative Union voting record compared to Warner's 81 percent. Davis, who represents a Washington suburban district, would be a strong candidate in populous Northern Virginia (carried by Democrats in their recent statewide victories). Former Gov. Jim Gilmore is a more conservative possibility if he gives up his current campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

"A footnote: Former Gov. Mark Warner would be the strongest Democratic candidate for the Senate, but insiders believe he may forego that race to keep himself available as Sen. Hillary Clinton's vice presidential running mate."

Warner would indeed be a formidable running mate for the heir apparent. He is astonishingly smart (Did you see him on that Davos panel on International affairs?), plays well among the Christian Right and could turn an ostensibly red state -- Virginia -- blue for the Democrats in a close Presidential election.

Or, Warner could be a Democrat hero and bring over another Senate seat to the Party. Warner is young, and, like John Edwards, ought to be laying the preliminary groundwork for another day, say 2012. If only Edwards wasn't so incandescently-hot with "The Fever (What happens the moment Secret Service detail gets assigned to a candidate, thus precipitating perennial runs for the White House; for further reference see Gephart, Dick)."

Edwards should be running for Governor of North Carolina (Or -- better yet -- President of Duke University, a school robustly in need of a refresher on "The Two Americas"), solidifying his presence in the state. And Warner was made to be a Senator. For now.

But Mark Warner of the great state of Virginia with the gravelly voice is indeed quite talented, and has surmounted the 10-year learning curve for speaking competently on International Relations. Who knows. But putting all of ones political eggs in the Vice Presidential basket is a long shopt at best, even for someone as talented as Warner (Especially with an effervescent Obama as second behind Clinton)(TownHall)