Warner: Parts Of My Keynote Won't Get Applause

RICHMOND, Va. — Former Gov. Mark Warner plans to offer a lesson in Virginia-style bipartisanship to thousands of hardcore Democrats in his convention keynote speech Tuesday night.

"There may be parts of the speech that aren't going to get a lot of applause," Warner said Monday, "but I've got to say what I believe will get our country back on the right path."

Some Democrats were already complaining, saying that Warner's job is to put a dent in Republican John McCain's image.

"This isn't the Richmond Chamber of Commerce," said Democratic consultant Paul Begala.

For Mark Warner, who is seeking the Senate seat of retiring Republican John Warner, a red-meat speech that would bring the party's most passionate warriors to their feet in Denver would undermine a carefully cultivated image at home that has given him a strong lead in statewide polls and a lopsided fundraising advantage.

Nothing about the presidential campaign indicates that either side is willing to speak kindly of the other or its nominee. Rhetoric and advertising from both Democrat Barack Obama and McCain turned caustic early.

Warner's election as governor in 2001 revived a moribund Democratic Party in a state where Republicans controlled every statewide office or elected institution of government. For Warner to work with a General Assembly that was overwhelmingly Republican when he took office, bipartisanship was not optional.

Now, in the race to replace a moderate senator, Warner is appealing to independent and even Republican voters by billing himself as a "radical centrist" in his campaign against rigidly conservative former Gov. Jim Gilmore.

"I'm not going to say one thing in Richmond or in Danville and another thing at the Democratic Convention in Denver. I understand some folks may not like that, but ... you know, I'm a job applicant," Warner said.

Warner, who is at the forefront of Democratic candidates who appear likely to expand the party's one-seat majority in the Senate this fall, is also part of a Democratic strategy to pry Virginia and its 13 electoral votes from the solidly Republican South.

Obama's campaign, hoping to win Virginia for a Democrat for the first time since 1964, selected Warner to deliver the 15-minute keynote address. Four years ago, Obama _ then a Senate candidate from Illinois _ delivered the keynote.

Comments

[ComnCents]

'There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos'

By Jim Hightower

[barackobama4prez]

This dude did a good job!!!

[blowhard]

There are some dem speakers a spine is more than enough. They need no brain - because independent thought and objectivity have no place in their lives. Warner is a nice guy (maybe) but he falls in the category I just described.

[ggmome]

Warner gave a 'polyester' speech. Very Centrist, very middle of the road. When you walk in the middle of the road, you straddle, and walk funny. I have always described middle of the road people as 'in betweens'. Sometime they are, and sometime they aren't. They are not people of substance. Wishy Washy, sometimey people. They lean towards what is beneficial to them.

Certain areas of VA are like that, and this is what I hate, loathe and detest about living here. They are always talking out of both sides of their mouth, split tongue hypocrites... Case in point, "She doesn't have a tooth in her head, Bless her heart" "She is as ugly as sin, Bless her heart", He doesn't have a brain in his head, Bless his heart"... There is always double meaning to things they say and their intentions aren't always honorable. Look you in the face while they stab you in the back, Bless Warner's heart!

[rock2casbah]

I think we are still having an Olympic pageantry hangover. We saw the Chinese and the networks put on a BILLION dollar show, so unfortunately the timing is not good for this convention.

Some of these speakers on the program are so underwhelming. I was surprised the next day that most of their speeches were under 7 or 8 minutes. I watched on CSPAN so no commercial interruptions or commentary.

[GuidedByEwoks]

I always thought the keynote speaker was always someone who gave a good speech. Ann Richards '88, Obama '04, Cuomo '84, and, yes, even Zell Miller '92. Choosing someone just because they are popular or look good on paper doesn't make good television. I've been very surprised at how amateurish this convention has been overall. There have been some great moments, but no coherence or focus. I'm hoping they're saving all the big production guns for Thursday, but who knows? My attention is waning.

[erykah]

There was a lot of attacking Bush/McCain tonight. I saw it all on c-span. Warner was okay. The governor from
Montana was the real keynote speaker. he brought thw house down just before Hill's segment.

[ThePhilosopher]

Mark my words: this is clearly a man with presidential ambitions and could very well become the Democratic nominee sometime in the future.

[MarcInCA]

Mark my words. The man is a snoozefest and if the Democratic Party is stupid enough to ever select him as the nominee, we'd lose the election John Kerry-style.

[MaynardGK]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
provided a good backdrop for my nap

[faithfully]

I liked the speech! It's about time someone addressed the need to develop scientists and new technologies and build economies is small towns; Warner is attractive in that he deals with solutions rather than looking at life in black and whites.

[MarcInCA]

The message doesn't matter if you put the listeners to sleep in the process.

[greeniefromOH]

Well, I didn't hear much bi-partisanship, but it sure was dull.

[mommadona]

This is really really pathetic.

The conversations on the floor are buzzing, no one is listening.

[mommadona]

He's losing them.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[mommadona]

WELL, SO FAR HE SOUNDS LIKE A REPUBLICAN SPEAKING AT A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RUBBER CHICKEN DINNER.

"I FAILED TWICE, TWICE! ONLY IN AMERICA COULD I TAKE TWO COMPANIES DOWN THE TUBES AND STILL BECOME A MILLIONIARE~~~~~

Talk about OUT OF TOUCH DINO....

BOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRING.....

[FaceYourFears]

M. Warner has some things going on and they're not all good.

[foolchild0]

Another centrist Clinton wannabe. When will the Democratic party stop falling for these guys?