Mark Warner "Would Rather be Governor," But....

By: Lowell
Published On: 9/6/2007 1:14:14 PM

From today's Hotline, I've highlighted quotes by Steve Jarding and Donald McEachin, including the one in the headline (bolding added):

Roll Call's McArdle reports: Several VA "insiders said they would be surprised" if Warner chose to pass on the race, even with his VP and GOV'09 prospects. Warner '01 manager Steve Jarding "said he has advised his old boss to make the jump to the Senate." Jarding: "I think he'd be on anybody's short list and would be a tremendous choice (for VP)... But my own sense is that ... Mark looks and says, 'I'm not going to wait for someone else to make a decision. I need to make a decision for what I believe is in the best interest of those who I want to serve' ... I believe that any time you put yourself in a situation where you make a decision based on what you predict somebody else might make you probably made a bad decision."

  VA consultant Rhett Walker: "Although the common wisdom has been that it's better to run for national office as a governor, I personally think [Warner] is looking at the trend that people are going to be demanding more experience on international and national defense. Leading a trade mission in Virginia is one thing, but that is no substitute for getting true experience with international affairs and national defense, which you would be getting in the U.S. Senate."

  '01 AG nominee/ex-state Del. Donald McEachin (D) said he would be "very surprised" if Warner did not make a SEN bid. McEachin: "I suspect that if it were easy to come back to Richmond, if it wasn't so disruptive on his family life, if [his wife] Lisa was at peace with it, yes, I suspect he would rather be governor. But that is not the environment he finds himself faced with. ... I think that on balance when he weighs his family considerations and puts those into the mix, the United States Senate is the place for him" (9/6).

Sounds to me like Mark Warner's gearing up for U.S. Senate, but I also agree with Donald McEachin ("I suspect he would rather be governor").

Comments



Most important part of the article: (James Martin - 9/6/2007 1:17:43 PM)
Monica Dixon, a senior adviser to the former governor, said Wednesday that her boss intends to make his political plans known sometime "within the next week or so."


verrrrry innnnnteresting... (Doug in Mount Vernon - 9/6/2007 1:20:01 PM)
I will support him no matter what he decides to do!

GO MARK WARNER!!  Live up to your promise and join the Senate majority!



The Senate, Mark (Teddy - 9/6/2007 1:27:16 PM)
rather than the Governorship. That is the best decision in my opinion, for the following reasons: 1) For the sake of the national Democratic Party and the country, we need to lock in Democratic control of the US Senate 2) You can't go home again--- that is, being Governor would not be the same a second time around, the Republicans have said repeatedly they'd learned their lesson about cooperating when Mark was Governor before, and they would never cooperate the same way again, regardless and 3) We need to encourage development of future Democratic leaders in Virginia, and putting Mark back in the Governorship would put a glass ceiling on the ambitions and futures of both Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds at a crucial point in their careers.
Go for the US Senate, please.


Just an Idea (Matt H - 9/6/2007 2:32:41 PM)
What about McEachin for Gov?  He's always been my favorite.


The Senate, Mark (Mary I - 9/6/2007 3:45:10 PM)
Three cheers for Teddy's thoughts as I see her as right on target.  I especially agree with her comment about the glass ceiling on the ambitions and futures of both Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds.
They both have great futures ahead of them and their time is now!  Now, where and when can I get my Brian Moran for
Governor bumper sticker?


Great reasoning (Rebecca - 9/6/2007 4:08:46 PM)
I agree. We need to open the governorship up for another Democrat. Running a challenging race for governor helps keeps the party apparatus sharp for all the other state races. It also develops new leaders.


Right On, Teddy! (K - 9/10/2007 3:58:54 PM)
Mark Warner could help the entire country by giving the Democrats a stronger majority in the U.S. Senate.


Mudcat is BACK..Pumping Warner and Thumping Hillary (WillieStark - 9/6/2007 4:45:19 PM)
He just put something up on Time Magazines Swampland


money quote from Swampland thing. (WillieStark - 9/6/2007 5:46:47 PM)
Today in rural Virginia, Mark Warner can draw a crowd quicker than Tim McGraw. Tim Craig from the Washington Post called a few minutes ago, and I told him if we grew palm trees in these mountains instead of red oaks that Bubba would be waving palm leaves when Warner came through town. Honestly, they love him that much.


Please Run for Senate (charlie hall - 9/6/2007 5:36:44 PM)
I am a huge Mark Warner fan. He came to the statehouse in a very tough time, and I think he was one of Virginia's greatest governors ever. Like others, I'll support him no matter what he chooses, but Virginia is at a watershed. To have two progressive Senators in Washington and a great team moving forward in Richmond could put our state on a positive path for years to come. I hope Mark Warner chooses to take on a new future at the national stage. It's where he's most needed.


Still have "Warner for Senate" buttons (hereinva - 9/6/2007 5:53:31 PM)
Polishing them up !


Correction (jeisrael - 9/8/2007 4:30:16 PM)
"'01 AG nominee/ex-state Del. Donald McEachin (D) said he would be "very surprised" if Warner did not make a SEN bid"

Donald McEachin is, as far as I know, is a CURRENT state Delegate, though essentially a state senator-elect.