Another option for VP

[°Leprechaun]

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Governor/GovBioHome.html


Any possibility?

[Gustaf]

Definitely, has been raised on the VP thread as well, I believe. Still, if you're gonna choose a Southerner, why not pick Edwards directly?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Because Warner can help with a "Virginia's Strategy" (ie: target both VA and WV).
Like Edwards his main appeal is to rural voters.
And because he has already endorsed Kerry.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

[NHPolitico]

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Governor/GovBioHome.html


Any possibility?

I noticed that Mark is tall. I think maybe that's a point in his favor. He can stand next to Kerry and not look like a dwarf.

[Nation]

My neighbors to the south do seem to have a fondness for Warner, he's a popular Governor from what I've read and heard. I don't think we have a Virginia resident on Atlas, though.

Yeah, he'd make a solid VP choice.

[12th Doctor]

The Dems should give-up trying for any states in the south in my opinion.  It probably won't happen.  They should concentrate on a mid-west strategy.

[HoopsCubs]

The Dems should give-up trying for any states in the south in my opinion.  It probably won't happen.  They should concentrate on a mid-west strategy.

I think you're quite right.  They should concentrate on New Hampshire, Ohio, West Virginia and Florida, and perhaps Arizona and Nevada.  Although, they should try somewhat in LA, TN and MO just to force President Bush to spend some money there.
But, in general, FL is the only state in the south that they have a reasonable shot to win (and even most say that shot is no longer reasonable).

Hoops

[Filuwaúrdjan]

My neighbors to the south do seem to have a fondness for Warner, he's a popular Governor from what I've read and heard. I don't think we have a Virginia resident on Atlas, though.

Yeah, he'd make a solid VP choice.

Oddly enough Warner's term as Governer has been dominated by him trying to tackle an enormous budget deficit caused by the outgoing Republican Governer...

[Nym90]

Warner would be a good choice. As you say, he would help in West Virginia and at least make Bush spend some time and money in Virginia too. Bush only won Virginia by 8% last time, it's not as Republican as North Carolina, so Warner on the ticket puts it in play. Plus Warner would appeal to rural voters nationwide, and isn't a Washington insider. Having a governor on the ticket would make sense.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Warner is also term limited.

[jravnsbo]

what was it 8-10% that vote dint he VA primary.  VA will easily be GOP country in November, Warner adds nothing to the ticket.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Bush won VA by only 8% in 2000. Where people get the idea that VA is an easy Bush win is beyond me...

[© tweed]

VA and gone Republican in every election since 1968, so it is Republican territory.

[Beet]

Jimmy Carter couldn't win Virginia even though he carried every other state in the South.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

True... but VA is swinging back towards the Dems
8% is a small margin.

[© tweed]

True... but VA is swinging back towards the Dems
8% is a small margin.

Not really, Clinton only lost it by 2% and gore lost it by 8%.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The fastest growing parts of the state are strongly Democrat... and Southside is swinging back as well (in 2001 Warner won in Lynchburg!)

[Gustaf]

True... but VA is swinging back towards the Dems
8% is a small margin.

Not really, Clinton only lost it by 2% and gore lost it by 8%.

Well, Clinton won the popular vote by a margin of 8-9%, so that means Virginia was 10-11% more Republican than national average in 1996 and 8% more Republican in 2000. Seems like a trend to me...and the 1976 result might show a willingness to go against other Southern states, rather than being Republican. Geography seems to be more important than idelogy in many cases.

[© tweed]

Talk to me about VA in 2008.

[Gustaf]

How much more % of vote the GOP presidential candidate has gotten in VA as compared to the national average:

2000: 4.6%

1996: 6.4%

1992: 7.5%

1988: 6.3%

1984: 3.5%

1980: 2.2%

1976: 1.3%

1972: 7.1%

This clearly shows that Virginia was trending Republican from the Carter retake of the South up to the early 90s. Since then it's been heading in the other direction. But it's true that at the current pace it wouldn't be an average state until 2010. But it could be a weak GOP state before then. It could well be down to to 2.5-3% above national average in this election, and that could make it competitive, especially with a Virginian VP.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

But if Warner is Kerry's VP it's up for grabs.

[Huckleberry Finn]

What is economical situation in Virginia right now? And BTW what it is in WV? Are there some fear of mines shut down?

[opebo]

What is economical situation in Virginia right now? And BTW what it is in WV? Are there some fear of mines shut down?

Virginia has one of the best state economies in the US.  The unemployment rate is hovering around 3.5%, bested only by the perrenial high employment Dakotas/Nebraska area.  
West Virginia is much poorer of course, but has been doing reasonably well economically.  Unemployment coming down sharply.
Source:  http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstcm.htm

[opebo]

A better link reflecting Virginia's booming economy:
http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htm

Its the third best in the country, and the best among 'big' states.  I always think the Dakotas and Nebraska are special cases - decent economies, but the unemployment rate is somewhat artificially low because young people tend to leave the states.