Pick for speaker reflects goals in Virginia

Four years ago, Barack Obama, then a little-known state senator from Illinois, rocketed to prominence when he delivered the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. Back in 1988, Bill Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, started his own path to the White House the same way.

But the announcement Wednesday that popular former Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner would give the keynote address to millions of TV viewers on Aug. 26, the second night of this year’s convention, signifies Democrats’ ambitions for his home state as well as for Warner himself.

Warner has asked not to be considered as a potential running mate for Obama, the presumed presidential nominee. Warner also disappointed supporters when he unexpectedly announced last year that he would not run for president.

Warner is instead running for the Senate, and is heavily favored in a race to succeed retiring Sen. John W. Warner, a Republican who is no relation.

Virginia has not voted Democratic in a presidential election since Lyndon B. Johnson won by a landslide in 1964; President Bush easily carried the state in 2000 and 2004.

But the traditionally conservative state has seen a dramatic Democratic shift in recent years, partly fueled by dissatisfaction with Bush. Obama and his Republican rival, John McCain, consider Virginia a potential swing state that could well determine the next occupant of the White House.

Both candidates are advertising heavily in the state, and both are publicly considering Virginians as potential running mates -- Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine for Obama and Republican Rep. Eric Cantor for McCain.

Obama, who won Virginia handily during the primary season, demonstrated his interest in the state when he chose it for his first major rally after he clinched his party’s nomination in June.

Since then, he has opened 28 campaign offices in the state, and says more than 10,000 volunteers are actively working on his behalf there.

In announcing Warner’s role Wednesday, Obama’s aides praised the Virginian as a mold-breaking politician who regularly reached out to Republicans while he was governor.

“Like Barack Obama, Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving,” David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager, said in a written statement.

Plouffe also hailed the former businessman -- Warner co-founded Nextel, the telecommunications giant -- for his economic record.

As governor, Warner “used his experience in business to help deliver jobs and hope to the citizens of Virginia,” Plouffe said.

Warner’s speech is likely to be overshadowed, however, by another speaker that night: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who fought Obama to a near-draw during the primaries and retains enormous support. She will be the “headline, prime-time” speaker.

Others scheduled to speak that night include Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, both reportedly under consideration as Obama’s running mate.

Also taking the spotlight will be Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio, Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.

--

bob.drogin@latimes.com