Reflecting new Democratic optimism about the South, former Virginia governor Mark R. Warner will keynote the party’s national convention in Denver two weeks from now.
Warner appealed successfully to NASCAR Democrats in his election as governor, running strongly in rural areas and with working-class social conservatives.
Warner, 53, briefly sought the Democratic presidential nomination but dropped out to pursue a U.S. Senate race against another former governor, Republican Jim Gilmore. Warner is far ahead in polls and fund-raising.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is targeting Virginia as a traditionally Republican state that he could turn blue this year.
The resources his campaign are pouring into the Old Dominion are emblematic of the party’s optimism about cracking into the GOP’s solid hold on the South’s electoral vote.
Warner, who endorsed Obama after dropping out of the primaries, has a post-partisan message that’s similar to Obama’s.
Warner’s a rising star in the party, paired with the established force of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) on the second night of the convention. The duo is designed as a powerful display of the strength of the Democratic Party headed into the fall.
The selection was announced by the Obama campaign on Wednesday morning, and disclosed to Warner supporters and donors in a midnight e-mail:
“Friends: It's late, but we couldn't wait to share with you some exciting news. Governor Warner has been asked to address this year's Democratic National Convention in Denver as the primetime keynote speaker on Tuesday night.
“According to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, ‘Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving. It’s that kind of spirit and innovation that resulted in his selection as keynote speaker on a night when the Convention program will focus on renewing America’s economy.’
“More details will follow, but we wanted you to be the first to know.”
Here’s the text of the Obama announcement:
MARK WARNER TO DELIVER CONVENTION KEYNOTE ADDRESS ON TUESDAY, AUG. 26TH
CHICAGO – The Obama for America Campaign announced today that former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address at the 2008 Democratic Convention on Tuesday, August 26th, the second night of the Convention.
An innovative businessman known for his ability to work with Republicans, Democrats and Independents, campaign officials said that Warner’s vision for Virginia and his leadership style echoed the Convention’s theme of Americans coming together for change.
“Barack Obama believes you can’t have a strong economy when you have a weak middle class,” said Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe. “Millions of Americans are struggling to get by, forced to make impossible choices about their future and the future of their families. Tuesday’s Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Obama’s concerns and strongly support his detailed economic plan to grow the economy, create jobs, restore fairness, and expand opportunity. As Governor of Virginia, Warner used his experience in business to help deliver jobs and hope to the citizens of Virginia. His work creating jobs in Southwest and Southside Virginia is a model for the rest of the Country. Like Barack Obama, Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving. It’s that kind of spirit and innovation that resulted in his selection as keynote speaker on a night when we will be discussing how to renew America’s promise.”
Warner, a candidate for the United States Senate in Virginia, will speak on Tuesday night of the Democratic Convention. The theme of Tuesday’s night program at the Convention is Renewing America’s Promise.
