CHESTER, Va.
Barack Obama continued his jaunt through Virginia today, appearing alongside Gov. Timothy M. Kaine at a late morning campaign stop outside of Richmond that concluded without the candidate publicly proposing a political marriage of the two as running mates.
Kaine, whose bona fides as a potential vice presidential pick have been oft dissected of late, introduced the Democratic presidential contender to an invitation-only crowd of more than 200 who gathered on the campus of Chesterfield County's John Tyler Community College.
During an 8-minute opening, Kaine called the Illinois senator a "unifier" and "a man who will bring about change at a time our nation needs it."
Kaine's national profile has grown considerably since word began circulating in recent weeks that his name is on the short list of candidates for the number two spot on the ticket.
For its part, the Obama campaign has remained tight-lipped about which potential vice presidential nominees are being vetted.
The campaign did confirm that Obama and Kaine this morning met privately at the downtown Richmond hotel where Obama stayed Wednesday night.
Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey acknowledged that senior members of the governor's staff stopped by the hotel for photos with Obama, but said "I don't know the extent of any meeting."
Obama made stops in Martinsville and Lynchburg on Wednesday, before stumping in Chester and Petersburg today, prior to a scheduled Chesapeake visit later this evening.
At each stop, Obama's remarks were virtually identical, right down to some of the jokes.
In Chester, Obama spoke from inside a roped-off area. Supporters were seated at metal picnic tables nestled under a canopy of pine trees.
He opened with a joke about the weather - it was a sunny day with a slight, pleasant breeze - being perfect for a picnic.
"Who brought the potato salad?" he asked. "Who's got the chicken?"
After lighthearted moment, Obama went on the offensive, seeking to draw sharp distinctions between his positions and those of U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who is the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
He criticized McCain's stance on the economy, the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East, and energy and education policy.
Positioning himself as a champion of the middle class, Obama said "ultimately this election is not about me, it's about you. It's about your hopes. It's about your dreams. So just remember that fact - this election is about you and who's going to fight for you."
Throughout those remarks, Kaine sat beside Obama on a wooden stool smiling and nodding approvingly.
Kaine was one of the first officials outside of Illinois to endorse Obama and the governor has actively campaigned for him since. A seeming kinships exists between the two, who are both Harvard educated lawyers.
But Obama's comments during the Chester speech were almost exclusively about the contrasts between he and McCain.
One of his few mentions of Kaine came in response to a question from an audience member who asked about the recent dismissal of the governor and Richmond by Karl Rove, a onetime advisor to President George W. Bush.
"He's a good man, isn't he?" Obama said about Kaine during his response.
During an appearance in Hanover County later in the afternoon, Kaine remained coy when quizzed by reporters about his vice presidential prospects.
"I'm going to let the campaign take it from here," he said.
"They're going to reveal what they want to reveal when they want to reveal it," he continued. "Again, it's been nice to be mentioned, but I'm going to let them do the heavy lifting from this point."
Obama is expected to name his running mate in the coming days, perhaps as soon as Friday.
His campaign has scheduled a rally in Springfield, Ill. Saturday, two days before the start of the Democratic National Convention next week in Denver. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is expected to appear with his running mate at that event.
Julian Walker, 804-697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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mary
I reread my comment and it meanders. I do these really quickly sometimes. What I was saying is the VP is a conservative paper, but they still need to sell newspapers. Thus Obama coverage has likely increased sales. Eventually McCain will come around and start campaigning. However, he is doing pretty well just sitting back and watching. Obama is one of those guys you just give enough rope and let him tie the knot for you(go ahead asner). I think we will see more action from McCain and his VP now that Obama has laid his cards on the table.
This should be an interesting fall season.
Public editor
The public editor is the person to e-mail for concerns about balanced reporting. I haven't counted articles or words or whatever, but it does seem as though the reporting has been a bit more about Obama than McCain these last few weeks.
Which is a tragedy. Some people are more eloquent than others, but that doesn't mean that "still waters don't run deep." I am pretty sure that over five years as a POW taught John McCain to measure his words pretty carefully--he may even be more laconic than necessary due to that time in his life. But . . . we still need to hear his positions before we vote. Websites work, but the VP could help us out here, too. Cheers, MGM
Supporting media control?
I think some of the Obamites have missed the point w/ these comments about the tilted media coverage:
"If McCain wasn't such a bore, I'm sure there would be more on him!"
"Maybe they didn't want to make him sound worse than he already is"
At least some of you are cheering on a news org for providing popular news instead of a balanced view. The problem there is deeper than any election. In the end, the VP is a conservative paper w/ conservative ownership. I have wondered why McCain has not campaigned bery hard. Even w/o trying he is meeting and beating Obama in the polls some of you love so much. He is spending a fraction of BO's money to accomplish this. I wonder when the mighty blow will come?
WHY NOT KAINE ???
He did nothing for the state of Virginia....But that doesn't matter...the only reason he's even being considered is Obumma knows how bad he needs the state of Virginia. But most Virginians are smart enough to see that if he does pick Kaine.
Why Not Kaine?
Tim Kaine is a good genuine guy who nobody dislikes other than some Virginians due predisposed bias against Democrats. I hope he gets it!
He would be alot better than any VP in recent memory. Cheney? OMG Gore? Way out there. Quale????? Idiot! (Just like Bush #1's son)
hey Ira
Maybe they didn't want to make him sound worse than he already is
Don't Fear an Intelligent Candidate
Say what you want, he makes a lot more sense than McCain and voices a better agenda for giving working people a break instead of Kow-Towing to corporate interests. McCain will only continue the failed policies of the present administration that have hurt us domestically and on the work stage.
*********News Flash***********
Obama is your next President!
To think.....
only 2 and a half short months before he is elected to the presidency. I can't wait!
If you don't like all these articles about Obama. . .
why bother to read them???? If McCain wasn't such a bore, I'm sure there would be more on him!
VP pick text
I just got the text. He picked Karl Rove!
what happened
To all the rockstar crowds during the primaries?
Obama 08!
The rally tonight will be very exciting! I wish I had tickets to go.
Does anyone really still think Obama will choose Kaine as a running mate? I think Bayh and Sebelius would be better suited for the job. Biden's not my favorite, but no one can contest his foreign policy experience.
Interesting race!
Another news flash...
NObama uses Charmin and doesn't inhumanely squeeze it.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS
Can we have some equality from the VP. I have seen approx. 1/100th articles on McCain as I have OBAMA. Lets have some fairness from the VP.
What happened to reporting?
"A crowd of more than 200 sat under a canopy of pine trees to listen to Obama speak about the differences between he and Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee."
it's just a suggestion, but wouldn't this actually be news if the paper had told us what he said? Instead they simply reported where he was and what he didn't say?
News flash!
Next news flash: Obama walks up stairs, buys coffee.
GO OBAMA!!!!!
I love it!!!!! I can't wait for my president to step into office!!!!