What about Obama?

President Barack Obama and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine may be close friends, but the nation's Commander in Chief hasn't yet cracked the governor's list of favorite presidents.

Speaking Thursday at a National Day of Prayer event on the State Capitol grounds, Kaine cited Abraham Lincoln and Harry S. Truman, who sanctioned the annual observance in 1952, as his two favorites.

The governor didn't mention Obama, who last year strongly considered picking Kaine as his vice presidential nominee and more recently tapped him as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

When a reporter reminded him of the omission, Kaine chuckled and then said "I'm sure (Obama) will end up on my list."

During today's ceremony, Kaine, a Roman Catholic, talked about how prayer helped guide him through some of the tough challenges he has faced as governor.

Authorizing executions, which Kaine opposes as a Catholic but has the power to permit in Virginia, is one aspect of the job he has often prayed about, the governor said.

Obama, meanwhile, has been criticized by conservatives for his decision to quietly observe the National Day of Prayer rather than hold a public ceremony, a tradition established by former President George W. Bush.

Thursday's prayer event in Richmond began with showers from the sky at noon and ended about one hour later with sun shining from the heavens.

-- Julian Walker

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