U2democrat
Blue Crack Addict
Democratic Leaders Turn to Kaine
Va. Governor Tapped to Give State of the Union Response for Party
By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 19, 2006; 10:25 AM
RICHMOND, Jan.19 -- Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has been tapped to give the Democratic Party's response to President Bush's State of the Union speech on Jan. 31, according to Capitol Hill sources.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi are scheduled to call Kaine Thursday morning to officially ask him to accept. They, along with Gov. Bill Richardson, the chairman of the Democratic Governor's Association, are expected to make the announcement Thursday afternoon, according to two sources, who declined to be identified before the announcement is made.
Kaine spokeswoman Delacey Skinner declined to comment, saying no announcement has been made yet.
Kaine, who won a tight election to become Virginia's 70th governor in November, is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party. He won convincingly in a conservative state and he campaigned as a fiscal conservative and spoke frequently about the importance of his faith.
For national Democrats, those messages are attractive as both parties head toward the mid-term elections later this year.
In the wake of the congressional lobbying scandals, Democrats are attempting to capitalize on what they call a culture of corruption in the Republican-controlled Congress. That makes it appealing to turn to an outside-the-Beltway governor, rather than a member of Congress, for the response to Bush's speech this month.
For Kaine, the selection is the culmination of a whirlwind of activity since he defeated Republican Jerry W. Kilgore on Nov. 8.
Kaine spent weeks traveling around the state at town hall meetings on transportation. Last Saturday, he was inaugurated in an historic ceremony in Williamsburg and gave his first speech as the state's new governor.
This week, he unveiled his legislative priorities to lawmakers, including a push for new controls on growth and development. Friday, he is scheduled to announce his plans for raising new money to fix the state's transportation network.
In previous years, congressional leaders have chosen insiders, such Reid and former House leader Richard Gephardt, or governors such as former governor Gary Locke of Washington state.
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
At his Inaugural ball last saturday
GO GET 'EM, TIM!!!!!!!