Cast your eye in this direction, Sen. Obama; we have the guy

Dear Sen. Obama,

Sorry to bother you, I know how busy you are. But please, oh please, pick Gov. Tim Kaine as your running mate.

If it's not too much trouble, do it soon. The convention starts in just 26 days.

Speaking of the Democratic National Convention, I'll be there! It would add a delicious dash of excitement for those of us at the newspaper if you were to put a Virginian on the ticket.

Don't do it just for us. There are other good reasons to grab our gov.

First of all, you may have heard that Virginia is called "The Mother of Presidents." That's because four of the first five were from Virginia, and more followed.

But do you have any idea how long it's been since a favorite son was vice president?

According to my research, it's been 167 years. Since John Tyler was William Henry Harrison's second banana. In 1841.

Sen. Obama, wouldn't you say our time has come?

Here's another argument for Kaine: You say you want to reach across the aisle and work with Republicans. There is no better way to feel the love from Virginia's GOP than to pluck this Dem from the governor's mansion and let Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling move in for the final year of his term.

Don't take my word for it. Earlier this week, University of Virginia's Larry Sabato predicted that if you selected Kaine, it could make the other side giddy.

"Bolling would quickly move to put his own stamp on state government with a new Cabinet, agency heads and board appointments," the pundit wrote.

When I talked to him Wednesday, Sabato said there was no question that Bolling would be constitutionally permitted to run in 2009 as an incumbent.

That sounds good for the GOP, but at least one local Republican official said the move would create chaos in some well-laid campaign plans.

"We already have the (McDonnell-for-Governor/Bolling-for-Lt. Gov.) bumper stickers printed," groaned Second District Republican Chairman Gary Byler on Wednesday.

"We are very pleased with the ticket we've assembled for '09, and we're content to let the governor serve out his term."

Bumper stickers?

But back to your big decision, Senator.

Everyone knows you desperately want to win Virginia. Your advisers may be telling you that with our gov on the ticket, the state turns blue.

Sabato said Kaine's approval rating is in the neighborhood of 55 percent, "good enough for a percentage point or two," in the general election.

In a close vote, that may be all it takes.

Some critics will tell you that Kaine has accomplished nothing as governor. So what? Look at it this way: His anemic record won't overshadow your own.

I hesitate to bring this up, but there's one more argument in favor of Tim Kaine - a delicate one.

It's his excitable eyebrow. The one begging for Botox.

I've read that you're self-conscious about your ears. Kaine could take care of that.

Trust me, if you're running with The Brow, no one will ever again notice your ears.

In closing, let me say that Virginia has waited a long time to see one of our guys on the ticket. If you decide against Kaine, do us all a favor and take another look at Jim Webb. Please.

Your friend in Virginia,

Kerry

Kerry Dougherty, (757) 446-2306, kerry.dougherty@cox.net