By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger
Virginia Democrats apparently are leaning toward presidential candidate Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton.
Many top Democrats believe that Obama would do better in the state than Clinton against any Republican opponent.
A few days ago, 9th District Rep. Rick Boucher made that argument as he endorsed Obama.
Boucher, a 13-term Democrat representing Southwest Virginia’s Fighting Ninth, said Obama does better in red states and rural regions.
Apparently 8th District Rep. Jim Moran, an Alexandria Democrat whose last rural patch of his Northern Virginia district was developed a few decades back, also agrees Obama is the more electable and better presidential choice.
Moran is set to endorse Obama next week prior to the Feb. 12 Virginia Democratic primary, said his brother, Del. Brian J. Moran, D-Alexandria.
Moran has resisted pressure from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not to endorse Obama, according to a knowledgeable Democratic Party source.
Gov. Tim Kaine said Tuesday night on Roanoke public radio station WVTF’s Evening Edition program that nationally Obama is the underdog right now but that can change by Feb. 12.
“I think he’s almost gotten this race to a dead heat,“ said Kaine, who endorsed Obama 11 months ago. “I think he’ll do well this Saturday in South Carolina, and if he does I think that will take him into the Feb. 5 states nearly closing the gap with Sen. Clinton. I think the primary in Virginia is going to be relevant to the race and to the Republican nomination as well.“
I asked Kaine what he would tell Obama if the senator becomes the nominee and asks him to run for vice president as his running mate.
“I would tell him it’s flattering to be mentioned, but I’ve got a job,“ the governor said. “I did not endorse him to get anything or to ask for anything. I endorsed him because I thought he was the right person. I think I can help him, and I want to help him, and I’m trying to help him, but I think I can help him in other ways.“
There wasn’t a hint of Gen. Sherman in that non-denial denial.
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Posted by ( Bob Gibson in Charlottesville ) on January 24, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Austin Durrer, press secretary for Rep. Jim Moran, D-Alexandria, said Thursday night: “The congressman has a very high regard and personal friendship with both candidates [Clinton and Obama] and has not made a formal commitment at this time.“
Durrer did not wish to go on the record about what Moran might do next week but repeated that he “has not made a formal commitment at this time.“
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Posted by ( Bob Gibson in Charlottesville ) on January 24, 2008 at 9:10 pm
A spokesman for Hillary Clinton and a longtime friend has weighed in on this blog post with the observation that the most recent poll gave Clinton a lead in Virginia. He also provided the following list of Virginia Democrats for Hillary:
Sen. Louise Lucas
Del. Adam Ebbin
Del. Al Eisenberg
Del. Johnny Joannou
Del. Jennifer McClellan
Del. Lionell Spruill
Susan Swecker, Chair DNC Southern Caucus
Mame Reiley, Chair DNC Women’s caucus
Jack Kennedy, Wise Co. Cleark of Court
Barbara Favola, Arlington County Board Member
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Posted by ( Bob Gibson in Charlottesville ) on January 24, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I’m sure that Pelosi has a lot of friends on both sides of the Clinton-Obama fence. I also had not heard prior to this week that she was leaning one way or the other—and a bid to keep someone from coming out for Obama does not automatically imply the Speaker has joined any camp. She may want fellow party leaders to hold their fire.
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Posted by ( ) on January 24, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Without revealing the identity of your knowledgeable Democratic Party source, can you account for the fact that when Rep. George Miller, reportedly a very close ally of Speaker Pelosi, endorsed Barack Obama, not only was there a lack of reporting that Pelosi had exerted any pressure on Miller not to endorse Obama, there was a lot of speculation that Miller’s endorsement signaled that Pelosi favored Obama, too?
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