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BOSTON--Mark Warner is news in South Dakota.
And in Tennessee.
And, hopefully, tonight in Massachusetts.
Virginia's governor, here for the Democratic convention, has been making the rounds of talk radio, doing interviews with stations flung across the country.
"I'm not sure if they're interested in me, or if I'm the next guy in the DNC lineup," Warner said yesterday before heading off to more interviews.
But the likelihood is, it's a little bit of both. Warner is being touted as one of the up-and-comers being showcased at the convention. He hasn't gotten the breathless press enjoyed by Illinois' Barack Obama, but he's got something better--a speaking slot on the same night as John Kerry.
Warner, who is one of a slate of about 17 speakers tonight, has four minutes on the convention, and the national, stage.
Before then, he'll need to actually write the speech.
"I'm going to spend some time on it today," Warner said.
But Warner knows what he wants to talk about--fiscal responsibility, and the importance of bipartisanship.
"I want to point out this administration in Washington has no credibility on fiscal issues," Warner said, noting that the Bush administration has promised tax cuts and that the federal government is running huge deficits.
That is "something I hope the Kerry campaign talks more about," Warner added. "The deficit has been the great nonissue of the campaign."
He told Virginia's convention delegation, to whom he spoke yesterday morning, that his speech would point out how Republicans would act if a Democratic president was in charge while the government runs in the red. They'd paint the president as a tax-and-spend liberal, he said.
Warner also wants to emphasize that it took a bipartisan coalition of Virginia lawmakers to end this spring's budget impasse. He said President Bush promised in 2000 to be a uniter, and that that promise has not been fulfilled. Warner thinks that's an opening for Kerry, and wants him to reach across party lines, woo independent voters, and avoid divisive partisanship.
The Kerry campaign and the Democratic Party reportedly have been tightly managing the speeches given here in Boston. Warner's will be no different.
"They know the message, what I want to talk about in terms of fiscal discipline," he said.
Beyond having a chance to spread the fiscal gospel, Warner's four minutes in the limelight are viewed as a boon to any further political aspirations he may have. Last week, University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato said Democrats pay attention to who's up and who's down, and Warner's speaking gig is a clear sign that he is up. If Kerry wins, that could translate into a Cabinet position or White House help with a U.S. Senate run.
He got to this favored status by winning the governorship of a Republican state--one that Kerry would like to win in November. Warner's 2001 campaign strategy of eschewing the liberal hot-button issues that often define Democratic campaigns in favor of topics like budget discipline and economic development was noticed by Democrats outside Virginia.
Warner has spent the week in a whirlwind of receptions and policy events, meeting national Democrats.
"It's a fun week," he said.
He hasn't spent a lot of time with the Virginia delegation, although he joined them in a reception at the delegation's hotel two nights ago and spoke to their breakfast yesterday morning. The delegation and Warner will also have another reception together before tonight's speeches.
And whatever his reception from the convention hall tonight, he'll have his own little cheering section in the Virginia seats.
The Virginia delegates greeted him at breakfast yesterday with blue "Warner" signs.
"I love these little signs," Warner said. "I hope we'll see a few of them tomorrow night."
To reach CHELYEN DAVIS: 804/782-9362 cdavis@freelancestar.com