RICHMOND
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will become chairman of the Democratic National Committee this month while serving the final year of his term leading the state government, several sources close to the governor said Sunday.
Kaine, who denied interest in the DNC post after November's elections, reportedly changed his mind at the urging of President-elect Barack Obama, a close political friend of the governor.
Kaine's press secretary did not return phone calls Sunday night, and spokesmen for Obama's transition team declined to comment on the
appointment. Two Democrats close to the governor, who asked not to be identified because they did not want to pre-empt Kaine or Obama, said the formal announcement is imminent.
The post will bring national exposure to Kaine, 50. He will be called on to travel widely and appear on Sunday morning news shows, touting Obama's policies and raising money for Democratic candidates.
The appointment will also raise political and policy stakes in Virginia, which faces a $2.9 billion budget shortfall over the next 18 months. Kaine recently urged the legislature to cut education, restrict access to Medicaid and double the cigarette tax.
To keep his focus on Virginia, Kaine reportedly will be a "part-time" DNC chairman until his gubernatorial term ends in January 2010. Virginia is the only state in the nation that bars governors from serving successive terms.
The post will position Kaine to direct large amounts of national political money into Virginia this year when the three top jobs in state government - governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general - are up for election as well as all 100 seats in the House of Delegates.
The House races have unusual stature this year. Democrats are hoping to win a handful of new seats to win a majority in the chamber and control the constitutionally required redrawing of House districts in 2011. The party in charge typically draws districts to allow it to expand its majority.
Kaine and Obama, both graduates of Harvard Law School, have been allies for several years. Obama campaigned in Virginia for Kaine in 2005. Kaine repaid the favor by becoming one of the first office holders to endorse Obama' s presidential bid.
Kaine served as a national co-chairman for Obama's campaign and was considered for the vice presidency. The governor helped Obama win Virginia's 13 electoral votes in November, marking the first time in 44 years that the state had backed a Democratic presidential candidate.
After the election, Kaine said he was not interested in becoming DNC chairman. "I don't view that, frankly, as consistent with being governor, so I'm going to be governor, " Kaine said at a Richmond news conference. "I would view it as taking my eye too much off the ball about things that need to happen here. "
Republicans in the General Assembly have often accused Kaine of being more focused on politics than policy. House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith reacted cautiously to the governor's appointment.
"I'm not really surprised," he said. "The question will be whether he will give Virginia the time it needs. Time will tell. "
The last Virginia governor to head a national party was Jim Gilmore, who in 2001 was named chairman of the Republican National Committee. Gilmore resigned the chairmanship in less than a year after disagreements with the Bush administration.
Terry McAuliffe, of McClean, who is in this year's race for Virginia governor, was DNC chairman from 2001 to 2005.
Kaine will succeed former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean as party chairman.
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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Kidding yourselves...
To think that Tiny Tim is going to give a tinkers darn about Virginia once he's playing footsie with Taxocrat Party elites. He won't even remember where the state is once he is there. The DNC will be his first priority and somebody will have to draw him a map so he can get back to Richmond to show up for his 'other job' as Governor. He's only hanging on to the office, to keep it Democrat hands, because if he resigns, Republican Bill Bolling would then become governor.
I'm so glad he has the time to be the chairman of the DNC...
while our own state economy is in the pits! He sure didn't get the position based upon his performance of losing money did he? He bragged about the $500,000,000 "surplus" (overtaxation - tax revenue over and above the budget) and now we have a $1,000,000,000 shortfall! Wow! You can be promoted for losing 1 1/2 trillion dollars as long as you are a tax and spend liberal! LOL! I wonder how much his new position will pay...hmmmmmmm?
congratulations governor kaine
Congratulations Governor be proud of your new upcoming position since you cannot run for Governor for a second term. I find it totally amazing Virginia is the ONLY state where a governor cannot run for two consecutive terms. How does anyone expect anything to get accomplished before another governor elect comes in and undoes what's been done?
Kaine will do an excellent job for the DNC and President-elect Obama was wise to allow him to do it on a part time bases.
The only people who have a problem with this appointmnet are Republicans, but the GOP has become so irrelevant it no longer matters what they think or say.
"It is all about me."
When Kaine looks in the mirror he sees the words "It is all about me."
runmatt03
"Kaine’s statement only mentioned by name one prisoner who would get a reprieve: Edward Nathaniel Bell, who was scheduled to die on Tuesday, April 8, for the 1999 murder of Ricky L. Timbrook, a Winchester police sergeant. Bell shot Timbrook, 32, in the forehead during a pursuit."
"He was later executed but not before Carpetbagger Timmy got to break his word."
Seems funny you say that given that in another article online today,it states that the Winchester Circuit Court just set a Feb. 19 execution date for the still incarcerated Edward Nathaniel Bell. Maybe that reprieve hasn't happened yet, eh?
Good post Cowpower
My point doesn't have anything to do with political parties. It has to do with finishing the job! Watching national politics, it's hard to believe that a majority of the politicians are in it to better the country. And I would imagine it is a 24/7 job to keep the special-interest money flowing in. Give me a break. In today's political environment, I'd be prouder if my son was Brothel Manager of the Year rather than be a politician, especially in D.C.
No fan
I'm no fan of Kaine's. What makes people think he can do anything for Virginia with this national position when he has done so little as the Governor of the Commonwealth. He's a party man. Half the time he was campaigning for Obama. In this new position, he'll just be working for the party, not really accomplishing goals for citizens.
I'd really respect him if he used his new found influence to derail Jacksonville's attempt to poach a carrier from here at great expense to the American taxpayer.
Poco is trying to say...
Whats that poco? George Allen is going to work for the democrats? Grandma and Elly Mae would be so proud.
Since when did the democrat controlled congress cause recession?
When the republicans finally admitted the economy is in one?
Coolwaker...
You want to know where lottery money goes? Well, the state pulled a real fast one there. Lottery funds were to be used for education. Well, that part is true, they are. Except, the government reduces the state budget amount for education by the same as the lottery profit. So there is no additional funding for education from the lottery. They use the lottery funds to pay the state budgetary portion of education.
Congratulations!
I want to think Governor Tim Kaine for his new job has chairman. Giving that governors can not run for reeletion, his help for President-elect Barack Obama, here in Virginia, and the party has a whole. This is great for him while serving his last year has governor without resigning. Make the party proud!
A do nothing liberal for a liberal party!
No suprise. A do nothing governor will be running the most liberal party ever in America. If Kaine does as much for the democratic party as he as done for the state of VA, than it will make it easier for republicans to gain back some seats in 2010.
Fantastic news
Despite the usual blather from the right wing clods who post here, this is great news for Virginia. Always nice to have friends in high places, and in case you haven't noticed, the times they are a-changin'. Far right malarkey isn't selling on Main Street anymore.
Uncle jed, uncle jed
Gooolllleeee. Jethro got a new job! He's gonna go an' cipher fer them folks in the dumocrat party. Kin we have a party, Uncle Jed? Kin we?
More Kudos for Kaine
Instead of realizing how a worldwide economic meltdown might also be affecting Virginia, it seems that many of the bozos on the right want to lay the blame for Virginia's economic whoes exclusively on Governor Kaine. Regardless of the cause, when it comes to getting federal funding for Virginia, it’s nice to know that our governor(and future chairman of the DNC) will soon have a close political friend in the Whitehouse.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the nation. Gov. Kaine will be a great Democratic Party Chairman!
Kaine
"Kaine recently urged the legislature to cut education, restrict access to Medicaid and double the cigarette tax."
Brilliant, just brilliant. Education is the single most important part of the future of our nation and Kaine wants to cut-back on education. And Medicaid...at 50 he should start thinking about "older" people just a bit. Cigarette tax...maybe good, maybe bad, but it might make some people cut their quality of food just to have a smoke.
Why not say no to any junkets for meetings, no thick carpets for those in government offices and go back to the old style government where everyone had metal desks and no adornments at all. Stay in Motel 6 when on official business instead of the high price hotels. Also "force" any contractor to live up to what they say. If something will cost $1,000,000.00 to fix, make them keep it at that cost, not raise it later and any over budget costs should be eaten by the contractors. Where is all the billions being taken in from the Lottery going? Come on Kaine, get a grip...you can do much better than cutting back on education and ignoring the elderly. Our leaders have taken us down the primrose path only to find cockle burs at the end.
Sad
Virginia Beach gets a part time mayor, and now the state is going to have a part time gov.
Problem is we are still stucky with taxin timmy. The state is in the worst shape ever, and timmy decides he needs to find something else to do? Too bad we can't get rid of him completly.
AM Gov Kaine Good OMG think AGAIN
The last thing Virginia needs is this incompentent man running this state for 2 more yrs Part time like he has done for the last yr. In the last yr he has STOLEN money from the Transportation Budget for our ROADS and placed it into another USELESS Pre-kindergarden babysitting service which he could not get the State senate to authorize. So what does the Useless Gov Steal money from the Transportation Budget then Cry about needing to raise TAXES to cover the shortfall HE CAUSED. Let this man go and finish destroying the Democratic party. After all in a recession caused by Democrats controlling congress what are they proposing to do Double the gas taxes to penelize people for not buying these useless overpriced hybrids made by the Big auto makers who had to be bailed out because of the dang unions. So do not try and Lecture the informed on Gov Kaines greatness we KNOW BETTER AND CAN"T be More thankful for term limits set on useless Gov's here in VA. BYE BYE KAINE Good ridness maybe now we can elect someone who will stay in Richmond and handle Virginia's business and not be up the kissing up to PEBO all the time.
OMG.......
Two more "Part-time" years for him to increase Virginia's almost 3 billion dollar deficit.
Makes "my" eyebrow raise!
He will fit in well in D.C.(while wearing his Jimmy Carter SMILE)