Kaine's approval rating in NoVa, already lower than the rest of the Commonwealth, is falling further after yet another failure to fix NoVa's road problem.

Is that why it was Kaine's wife who introduced Barack at the Robinson rally? To avoid TK getting booed for that and for endorsing an opponent of a female candidate at a town hall on women's issues?

Could Kaine even carry No Va now?

If Barack wants to contest or win Va, he has to carry No Va. Kaine could hurt him here.  

My wife actually told me about an hour ago that she thought Murphy was simply putting out disinformation, actually HOPING that Kaine is Obama's pick.  It's hard to say, but Murphy is an extremely clever guy.

is telling your opponent what to think. It has frequently worked for the righties, and this is not the first time they've tried it. I agree, it's a dis-information campaign. Makes me more certain than ever that I do not want Kaine to be Obama's choice.

NoVa congestion will be greatly improved when gas prices spike in this fall ;)

Maybe Kaine's wife introduced Obama because it was a forum on women's economic security, and she's a lawyer and former judge, and a political force in her own right.  I doubt Northern Virginia Democrats are going to vote for McCain over Obama because they are disgusted about traffic.  As long as I can remember, Northern Virginians have been disgusted about traffic.  They are smart enough to see that the Republicans offer no solutions, just more mindless gimmicks and finger-pointing.

Also, while I would stop short of believing there really is a monolithic "Catholic vote," any more than there is a "women's vote," I know a lot of Republicans who voted for Kaine and most of them are, no surprise, Catholic.  Do you have any idea how many Catholics there are in Virginia?

Except in TX (Hispanics along the Rio Grande), FL (Caribbean immigrants around Miami) and La (Cajuns around New Orleans).

Across the rest of the Confederacy, it's less than 10% and in some states less than 2%. In large measure, this is a result of the lack of economic opportuities in the South during times of Catholic emigration from Europe (Irish 1840s, Italians & Poles 1870-1920) and the KKK's anti-Catholic terrorism campaigns in the 1920s.

Re Kaine's wife.  Gerry Connolly warmed up the crowd so I don't think gender was the basis for the choice of Ms. Kaine.

As for Kaine's appeal to Catholics, his repeated executions are each a mortal sin and do him no favors with Catholics as the Church is very clear that capital punishment is a sin.

Dissaffected NoVa voters and Catholics might spend their time and money on the Warner race if Kaine is Obama's pick.  

I know I would if Barack chooses TK.

n/t

54% or so.  Just saw a poll recently

Just like Rove wishing for an Clinton candidacy so he could avoid this Obama nomination that is so horrifying and threatens to rewrite the electoral map in the Democrats favor for a Generation, now we're hearing accolades for Kaine.  Sad.

Kaine has no lead, has not achieved, has not distinguished himself.  He's ridden the fence to much to have won the support of true partisans (check the masthead), and he's been too partisan on other issues to have achieved any kind of moderate status.

Essentially, on issue after issue and on nearly every critical moment, he's just been flat wrong.  He hasn't earned a national reputation, because he hasn't been a leader here in Virginia.

Obama could not do worse.  

In all fairness, he has been an able administrator and has done a very good job supporting the resurgence of the Democratic party here in Virginia.  Still, that's not nearly enough to give him the stature that would strike fear into the hearts of Republicans.  That's what it would mean to have Jim Webb in the #2 slot, but you know, I just can't fault Webb.  He did his part in this election cycle, by taking out George Allen.

Good job posting this story!

Murphy may very well believe he is engaging some clever Nixonian (or Br'er Rabbit) subterfuge by spinning Kaine to the fore. The Grand Oil Party likely fears more an Obama-Clinton juggernaut -- what they view as a Dem dream team-- given their own dynastic / nepotist propensities. A secondary reason might be the assured near term payoff of a year of Virginia's governorship.

Just as likely is that they REALLY DO FEAR KAINE on the ticket and are saying so, knowing full well that some Dems will say "Ah ha! They say the fear Kaine, which means they don't!"

Or Murphy could simply be telling the truth.

It doesn't matter. Let them opine and bloviate. Voters will judge the VP candidate on little more than appearances and oratory skill, and here TK is sharp as a cyberknife. Obama should pick based on who he knows will have his back and who lets him stand out as the best Presidential candidate.

I've posted my reasons for supporting Obama-Kaine before. To sum up, I have filmed their joint appearances since 2005, and the power of their synergy just grows every time.

Watch his speech again.  It was totally unscripted.

That is the key to a person being prepared to step in and be an effective President.  If Reed is really not interested then I return back to Richardson.  I hope that Reed is interested because he seems like a better option overall than Biden.  I would be ok with Biden.  Nobody has a better command of foreign policy.  I do  want the VP to be an elected official.

Sen Reed is a fine option (although you probably lose a Senate seat), as is Sen Hagel (although he still has the R problem), as is Sen Biden (who would make a fine VP and could debate Gov Romney right out of the park).  Don't see Richardson getting successfully vetted.

I don't think the Democratic Party would have any problem holding onto Jack Reed's senate seat. Lincoln Chafee could make a serious run at it as an independent, but that would be perfectly fine with me. Even when Chafee was a Republican, he did more to promote progressive ideals than most Senate Democrats.

Who in the recent past - besides Cheney had foreign policy?  No-one - Cheney's example ought to tell you all you need to know - foreign policy experience not necessary.

Foreign policy is best served with a strong decision maker and good advisors.  

The fact that there may have been a lax attitude about foreign policy experience in the past is no argument for repeating the same mistake.  You are falling into the very trap we want to get out of:  We do not want to be weak on foreign policy.  It is more than just talk.  We have to put forward qualified candidates.  The VP nominee should be someone such as Reed, who has exhibited similar judgment and interest in foreign policy as Senator Obama.  By the way, Senator Obama's command of foreign policy is certainly a significant factor in my decision to commit to him shortly after he announced.

We can never forget September 11th.