Gov. Warner (Va.)Will Not Seek Senate Seat In '06

[underpants]

Democratic Chairman: Warner Intent On Ending Term

http://www.nbc4.com/news/4912728/detail.html

RICHMOND, Va. -- Gov. Mark Warner will announce Tuesday that he will not challenge U.S. Sen. George Allen's re-election bid next year.

That's the word this evening from the state Democratic Party chairman, C. Richard Cranwell.

Cranwell says he believes Warner is intent on ending his term as governor on "a good note."

The decision would free Warner to explore a possible presidential bid after he finishes his term as governor in

[underpants]

1. WaPo and Daily Press links

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/29/AR2005082901427.html

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-76016sy0aug30,0,3509715.story?coll=dp-headlines-topnews

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Goddamnit!

So much for trying to win that seat...

[underpants]

3. Exactly this pisses me off

just generally. If he doesn't want to run he, of course, doesn't have to and if he wants to take some time off I DO understand that but this will basically give the seat back to Pumpkin head and set him up for his run to the White House. God, I can't believe I just posted that thought.

[17th and B]

4. Dont give up on other statewide Dems

Kerry Donley, former mayor of Alexandria and former state party chair. He is popular with Democrats and may be able to lockdown Northern VA. Too bad he is so much of a partisan.

Then there is Lt. Gen Claudia Kennedy - she'd wipe the floor with Allen... too bad she probably wont run.

[SaveElmer]

7. What about Gerald Baliles...

Former Governor (right before Doug Wilder). He was quite popular but has been out of the spotlight for quite a while. If the Democats could convince him to run, he might give our child-senator a run for his money,

Mark Warner would be better off going after John Warner's seat in 2008.

[UDenver20]

6. Agreed...

This guy's in a position to help the Dem's snag one....

damnit Warner....

[SaveElmer]

5. He is better off this way...

He would give Allen a tough fight, but in the end he would most likely lose. Allen is still quite popular here, and in Virginia, a popular Republican beats a popular Democrat 9 times out of 10. Mark Warner, I predict, will run for John Warner's seat in 2008. John Warner will likely retire and Mark Warner would be a prohibitive favorite for that seat.

If the Democrats could convince former Governor Gerald Baliles to come out of retirement, he could possibly give Allen a race.

[ernstbass]

8. Oh crap - 4 more yrs of George Allen the Buffoon

This sickens me.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

10. Six years in the term for a senator

Sentor - six years
Congress - two years

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

9. Unfortunately George Allen is the perfect senator for VA

Demented racist
RW asshole
Stupid to the nines
Name recognition
Ignorant beyond measure.

I hate him being reelected as much as anyone else, but Warner would probably lose anyway.

BTW, I live in Richmond, VA and most of my white, suburban neighbors are brainwashed to the point of severe senile dementia when it comes to politics. They'd prefer a brain transplant donor (W?) to a democrat.

We're fucked until we get some liberal content on TV and radio in markets like this one.

[underpants]

11. I recently moved to the heart of Cantor country

I know I know Cantor and country shouldn't be used in the same sentence but I digress....I have seen tons of Kaine signs all over the place-Gov.Warner is very popular these days. Just saying.

Yes I am aware that the RNC would have absolutely POURED money into Va. to make sure a suit like Allen stays in power (NRA etc. too) but if anyone was going to beat him it probably would have been Mark.

Allen is prepping for a POTUS run anyway. Yeah sit back and watch the state be completely embarassed.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

14. Hello, neighbor (ItstheMedia).

Have you tuned into WRIR (97.3 FM)?

www.wrir.org

It's indie radio based in Richmond.

"Radio for the Rest of Us."

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

15. Thank you for the heads up

I'll tune them in starting tomorrow morning on the way to work.

[dean_dem]

12. This does not sound good for a presidential run.

I'd happily cast a vote for Warner for President, but the lack of experience issue is going to be tough to overcome. A term in the Senate would have helped that a lot.

[davidinalameda]

13. this is one of the reasons I'm not crazy about Warner

he could really help by running against Allen--polls show him ahead and we could take this seat back

but NO--he's going to run for president

I would like to see some sort of campaign to get him into the Senate race

Some VA DUers need to start a draft campaign to get him to run

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

16. I'm NOT sure Warner could carry VA if nominated

It's odd, but this state seems much more open to voting Warner for gov or senator, for that matter than it seems to be for president.

OTOH, it's the slime, stupid! In a presidential race, the pugs would pound home at least two big lies about Warner, the official, "socially acceptable" lie and the sleazy Swift Boat lie. I don't know what those lies would be, but I bet some RNC operatives are doing research already.

That is how they are as effective as they are in presidential elections.

(edited to fix subject)

[GOPBasher]

17. Damn!!

I would've loved for him to try to get us a senate seat in Virginia. He's very popular there.