*For Kaine, Selection of Obama VP Bittersweet *Va. Governor Once Considered for Ticket
By Anita Kumar Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, August 24, 2008; C01 RICHMOND, Aug. 23 -- Gov. Timothy M. Kaine<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Tim+Kaine?tid=informline>said Saturday that being seriously considered as a running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Barack+Obama?tid=informline>was "surreal" and that finding out he had not been selected brought a "mixture of emotions." "It's been a . . . kind of beyond-your-wildest-dreams experience to be mentioned," Kaine said. "It was very, very flattering to be considered. To be mentioned by folks for that position was very gratifying." Kaine, a friend of Obama's and co-chairman of his national campaign, stopped short of pledging that he would not leave the governor's mansion for a Cabinet position should the U.S. senator from Illinois win. But, he said, he expects to finish his term. "When I signed on with Senator Obama, it wasn't to get anything," Kaine said. "My complete expectation is I'm going to be governor until January 2010." Kaine, who is in Denver for the Democratic National Convention<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Democratic+National+Committee?tid=informline>this week, told reporters that Obama had made an excellent choice for the country, and battleground state of Virginia, in selecting Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr.<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Joseph+Biden?tid=informline>of Delaware, "a person of great heart" who has expertise in foreign policy and the judiciary. "Senator Obama has made a great pick in Joe Biden," he said. "Senator Obama and Senator Biden will work very, very well in Virginia." Last month, word surfaced that Kaine, 50, had been having serious conversations with Obama about joining the Democratic ticket and that he had provided background documents to the campaign for review. A month of feverish speculation followed, culminating in reporters camping out outside the governor's mansion Friday while Kaine snuck out through an underground tunnel. Kaine repeatedly declined to discuss when he was notified that he had not been selected and what he was told. "I can tell you, I suspect there's a great sigh of relief," said C. Richard Cranwell, chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Democratic+Party+of+Virginia?tid=informline>. "There are a bunch of folks who have said, 'I would really hate to lose Tim as governor.' " Del. Brian J. Moran<http://projects.washingtonpost.com/votersguide/2007/va/candidates/albert-c-eisenberg/>(Alexandria), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Democratic+Caucus?tid=informline>and a likely candidate for governor next year, said he was proud of Kaine, as well as Sen. James Webb<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/James+Webb?tid=informline>(D-Va.) and former governor Mark R. Warner<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Mark+Warner?tid=informline>(D), who were also thought to be under consideration, for showing the country that Democrats are succeeding in Virginia. With under three months before the November election, Democrats have set their sights on Virginia, considered one of the country's newest battleground states. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Virginia since 1964, but Democrats won the past two gubernatorial elections and a high-profile Senate race in 2006. Robert D. Holsworth, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Virginia+Commonwealth+University?tid=informline>, said the focus on Kaine in recent weeks "reinforced how crucial Virginia has become to presidential politics." "It's been decades since we have seen that," he said. But Virginians who support Sen. John McCain<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/John+McCain?tid=informline>(R-Ariz.) for president said Obama decided against Kaine because the governor lacks experience and would not have been able to deliver the state's 13 electoral votes, potentially critical to winning the White House<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/The+White+House?tid=informline> . "Even the governor couldn't make Barack Obama palatable to Virginia voters,'' said Del. Christopher B. Saxman (R-Staunton)<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Christopher+Saxman?tid=informline>, co-chairman of McCain's presidential campaign in Virginia. The Obama-Kaine ticket "wasn't going to sell votes." Kaine and his family flew to Denver on Friday night on a jet owned by supporter Sheila C. Johnson<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Sheila+C.+Johnson?tid=informline>, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Black+Entertainment+Television+Inc.?tid=informline>. He spent Saturday giving media interviews and sightseeing with family members, who attended a Colorado Rockies<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Colorado+Rockies?tid=informline>baseball game. On Sunday, he will attend a welcome reception for the Virginia delegation sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Dominion+Resources+Inc.?tid=informline>, the largest energy provider in the state. Warner will give the keynote address Tuesday, but Kaine's role at the convention remains undetermined, the governor said. He said he was happy to be at the convention despite not being chosen for the ticket. "It's not anything I ever sought or asked for and certainly nothing I ever expected," he said. In February 2007, Kaine became the first governor outside of Illinois to endorse Obama, and he has pledged to do whatever it takes to deliver Virginia to Obama in November. The two became friends after they campaigned together during Kaine's 2005 gubernatorial race. Kaine, who like Obama has Kansas roots, has returned the favor, stumping nationwide for the presumptive nominee during the primaries. "What I'm really focused on now is this race in November," Kaine said. "We've got a great opportunity to grab electoral votes in Virginia." Virginia Republicans, who have accused Kaine of spending too much time campaigning for Obama, said the vice presidential selection process distracted him from such responsibilities as addressing a budget shortfall that could top $1 billion. "I'm sure Tim Kaine enjoyed the attention he received as Barack Obama's surrogate, attending rallies, traveling the country, going on the Sunday morning talk shows and being showered with confetti at each stop," said Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick<http://projects.washingtonpost.com/votersguide/2007/va/candidates/jeffrey-m-frederick/>(Prince William<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Prince+William+County?tid=informline>), state GOP<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/U.S.+Republican+Party?tid=informline>chairman. "But Tim Kaine will not be vice president this year, and he must now set aside his ambitions to focus on getting back to work as governor, particularly now, given the budget mess we find ourselves in." *Staff writer Sandhya Somashekhar contributed to this report.* -- "Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. 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