WASHINGTON — Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner will be the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 26 as Barack Obama’s campaign moves both to emphasize his post-partisanship pledge and to win the Old Dominion State in November.
Now a Senate candidate who’s favored to win, Warner will speak during a day themed “Renewing America’s Promise.” Democrats called it a focus on jobs, the economy and finding ways to fund health care and college.
“As governor of Virginia, Warner used his experience in business to help deliver jobs and hope to the citizens of Virginia,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said. “Like Barack Obama, Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving.”
A slice of Obama strategy
Warner, 53, served as Virginia governor from 2002 to 2006. He was widely expected to seek the Democratic presidential nomination until 2006 when he announced he would not run.
Giving Warner the keynote speech slot, which Obama had at 2004’s Democratic National Convention, underscores Obama’s strategy of targeting traditionally Republican states that are trending Democrat, including Colorado, said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
Current Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is a Democrat, as is the junior Sen. Jim Webb, who won in 2006.
Johnson last to win state
Virginia last selected a Democrat for a president in 1964, when Lyndon Johnson won the state.
“Highlighting Mark Warner, who led the Democratic turnaround in Virginia, is a clear signal to Virginia that the state’s in play,” said Jared Leo pold, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Popular with voters, Warner is given credit for working with a Republican-dominated state assembly to fix budget gridlock, Sabato said. That fiscal fix included raising some sales and cigarette taxes while lowering some food and income taxes.
Warner is running for the Senate seat that Republican Sen. John Warner is leaving. The two men are not related.
Sabato said Warner is so favored to win, “it’s the most certain Democratic pickup in the Senate in the country.”
“If he could somehow transfer a good piece of his support to Virginia, Obama would carry Virginia,” Sabato said. “If Obama wins Virginia, the election’s almost over.”
Virginia has 13 electoral votes. But a win in Virginia would signal that Obama is likely to pick up other states that had trended red, Sabato said, like Colorado.
Likely Republican nominee John McCain also is investing in Virginia. His campaign has been running television spots throughout the state. His camp today plans to elaborate on its strategy for the state.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will also speak on the same night as Warner. Her address will be the headline prime-time speech.
Anne C. Mulkern: 202-662-8907 or amulkern@denverpost.com
Convention speakers
Speakers confirmed for the Aug. 25-28 Democratic National Convention:
Monday
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Craig Robinson (Michelle Obama’s older brother); Michelle Obama
Tuesday
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius; Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano; Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland; Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell; Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer; Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Jr.; former Denver Mayor Federico Peña; Sen. Hillary Clinton; former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner
Wednesday
Sen. Ken Salazar
Thursday
Gov. Bill Ritter; Sen. Barack Obama
Veepstakes
Given that the vice-presidential nominee speaks on Wednesday of the convention, speakers assigned to Tuesday are considered less likely to get that nod. Those not yet on the Tuesday list, and therefore presumably still potential running mates for Barack Obama, include Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson; Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh; Delaware Sen. Joe Biden; and former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn.
The Obama campaign will announce his running mate via text messages and e-mails sent to supporters.
