The fairly moderate former governor was up against another former governor, Jim Gilmore, who although solidly conservative may have been the only candidate who significantly hurt his image by making a primary presidential run.
Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner has breezed to victory in his bid for the Senate, capturing for Democrats a southern seat long held by Republicans and fueling expectations that Democrats would solidify their now-thin leadership grip over the chamber.
Warner beat another former governor, Republican Jim Gilmore, in the race to replace retiring five-term Sen. John Warner.
One of Warner's greatest sins as governor was that he hid a significant budget surplus while pitching the General Assembly on the highest tax hike in Virginia history, which went into effect the very year I moved to Virginia. It was a pretty shady move.
Since then, however, aside from a bit of canoodling with the Kos crowd when he was flirting with the idea of running for president, Warner has disappointed liberal Dems and activists at every turn. First, by deciding not to run for president, despite his proven ability to win white, Southern voters. Then by delivering a deliberately moderate anti-stemwinder at the Democratic National Convention, which was mostly positive about the American dream and tepid in its criticism of George Bush.
Let's hope this moderate Dem with a talent for talking to rural voters continues to stymie his liberal colleagues in the Senate when it comes to things like the Fairness Doctrine and card check.
