Kaine will lead U.S. Democrats

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is President-elect Barack Obama's pick to run the Democratic National Committee, a high-profile post from which the Virginian can steer millions of dollars in cash and services to candidates across the country.

"He's going to be offered the chairmanship of the DNC, and he's going to take it," said House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong, D-Henry, who discussed the appointment with Kaine in a phone conversation on New Year's Day.

Kaine, an early ally of Obama, was a finalist to be his vice presidential running mate. Kaine, who after the election disavowed interest in the DNC post, will serve as a part-time chairman during the final year of his governorship, which concludes in January 2010.

After that, Kaine will become full-time party chief. Kaine will assume the part-time DNC role as he wrestles with a $3 billion budget shortfall that is likely to dominate the final General Assembly session of his administration.

There was no immediate comment last night from Kaine or his spokesman.

In succeeding Howard Dean at the DNC -- the former Vermont governor and presidential candidate steps down Jan. 21 -- Kaine will play a major role in the planning and execution of strategy in the midterm congressional elections in 2010.

But Kaine also will be in a position to shape further the 2009 elections to choose his successor as governor and to determine whether Republicans remain in control of the House of Delegates, long an obstacle to his programs as chief executive.

Kaine is pinning down post-gubernatorial employment even as he advances a budget-balancing plan that relies on the layoffs of more than 1,000 state workers.

Kaine's selection was confirmed by party officials and operatives, some of whom spoke confidentially because they were not authorized to comment on Kaine's behalf.

"He has the ear of the president, and I understand that [Obama] wants to expand the role of the DNC," said Armstrong, adding, "I don't think that hurts us in this part of the world."

But Virginia Republicans said Kaine's elevation to the chairmanship during the state's fiscal crisis could sour further his relationship with GOP legislators, particularly those in the House.

"This is a highly partisan post at a time when Virginia desperately needs bipartisan leadership," said Phil Cox, senior strategist for Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the probable GOP nominee for governor.

Referring to Republican lawmakers, Cox continued, "They're looking for leaders who are willing to reach across the aisle to get things done. And I don't think this helps."

G. Paul Nardo, chief of staff to House Speaker William J. Howell of Stafford, said a Kaine chairmanship would erase fully the image of state Democrats as putting "Virginia ahead of party interests."

Kaine becomes the second Virginia governor to serve simultaneously as a national party chairman. Then-Gov. Jim Gilmore was named Republican national chairman after he helped George W. Bush capture the pivotal Virginia GOP primary in 2000. But Gilmore later lost the job in a power struggle with the Bush White House.

Kaine would move to the DNC as an Obama confidant.

The Virginian was the first governor outside Obama's home state of Illinois to endorse him. He backed Obama barely a week after he declared his candidacy in February 2007.

Kaine delivered the state for Obama in last winter's primary and helped tip Virginia Democratic in the general election -- the first time in 44 years the party won here for the presidency.

During the transition, Kaine also has advised Obama on the giant economic-stimulus package that could pump billions of dollars into transportation and other construction projects in Virginia and elsewhere.

After he was not selected as Obama's vice presidential running mate, Kaine said he intended to complete his four-year term as governor. However, his name continued to surface as a Cabinet prospect -- last month, Kaine was mentioned for education secretary -- as well as DNC chairman.

Kaine denied interest in a Washington job and suggested one position that might interest him was the presidency of Virginia Commonwealth University. Eugene P. Trani is retiring as head of the fast-growing school.

Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .

Staff writer Jim Nolan contributed to this report.