Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to head DNC

[brianna69]

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to head the Democratic National Committee, a Democratic official said.

The pick is a bet that an energetic younger leader will help the party capitalize on the historic enthusiasm that swept Obama to his landslide win.

Kaine, like Obama a graduate of Harvard Law School, was among the earliest statewide officials to endorse Obama, and was among finalists to be the vice presidential candidate on his ticket.

Kaine has long one of the party's rising younger stars, even delivering his party's nationally televised response to one of President George W. Bush's State of the Union addresses.

The governor won handily in a traditionally Republican state in part with frank conversation about his Roman Catholic faith. His victory in the state's exurbs is viewed as a model for other Democrats.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17034.html

[tekisui]

1. He is definitely no Howard Dean.

I hope he was paying attention to the great work that Dean did.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Kaine has big shoes to fill. nt

[ShortnFiery]

4. Kaine is sharp and I believe that he will serve the DNC well.

He's a person who can speak to "all sorts" of people. Not near as charismatic as Obama but "good people" and highly intelligent.

[AtomicKitten]

7. I agree. He comes with a fresh perspective. An influx of new blood is good for Dems.

:hi:

[polichick]

3. Is that a better job than governor? Not sure I'd want it.

[Thrill]

5. His term is up as Governor

[polichick]

11. Oh, I see. Thanks. :)

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. He will do both until his term expires

He cannot run for reelection as Governor due to term limits.

[polichick]

17. He'll be busy! And Terry McAuliffe is moving in the other direction...

...from DNC head to running for gov.

[Unsane]

6. Great choice.

[BlackmanX]

8. Obama should have kept Dean

Dean wanted to win more than Kaine. Dean wanted to build up all the state parties and the natoinal party grew under his chairmanship. Also, Dean represented the liberal wing of the party. Kaine just seems like the payback of a favor from the election.

[Thrill]

9. It didn't seem like Dean wanted to keep doing it

[sandnsea]

10. The DNC Represents the President

in a Democratic Administration, or at least his political agenda. Those words came straight out of Howard Dean's mouth and he is not interested in being the PR wing for the White House. Tim Kaine is absolutely perfect for the job, as it stands right now.

[brianna69]

12. Dean resigned as DNC chair

He was no longer interested in being the chairman of the DNC. No one booted Dean.

[flpoljunkie]

13. 'Kaine plans to work at the party part-time until 2010, when his term as governor is up.'

Kaine plans to work at the party part-time until 2010, when his term as governor is up and he can take over the DNC full-time.

Current DNC chairman Howard Dean plans to step down Jan. 21, the day after Obama's inauguration.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/04/us/AP-Democrats-Chairman.html

[nxylas]

14. Does this mean that the era of the permanent campaign is over?

Kaine clearly feels that DNC chair won't be a full time job for the next couple of years. It's like he doesn't want to win the 2012 election :sarcasm:

[dflprincess]

18. And what does that mean for the midterms?

Is he just going to trust the DSCC, DCCC and the state party organizations to handle them?

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Another DLCer appointed by Obama!

:toast:

[Mass]

19. Sigh! I guess this is not surprising, as he is close to Obama.

Sadly, this also means that social issues will be forgotten.

Hopefully, he is better with economical issues.

Wont be worse than McAuliffe, any way.

[Sebastian Doyle]

20. It's impossible to be worse than McUseless was

But he's certainly no Howard Dean, and that's a damn shame, if things go back to that DC/Virginia-centric horseshit way of running the party :evilfrown:

[Larkspur]

21. Kaine is not energetic. He's boring.

Probably a good ol' boy too.

[Thrill]

22. Kaine sounds perfect for the position. From the WP

"Taking the DNC job will make Kaine an irresistible target in his home state, where critics have long accused him of putting partisan politics ahead of governing."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/04/AR2009010401139.html?wprss=rss_politics

[jefferson_dem]

23. Good choice.

I like his vision and his ability to articulate it.

Still, I would have liked to see Plouffe do his thing for the party as a whole.