The case for a southern centralist:
In the year to come a variety of candidates will press their claims for the parties Presidential nomination. Each will argue that they possesse the necessary political, intellectual and organizational skills to successfully lead the party to victory. The extent to which their claims are validated will almost certainly be determined by their ability to win southern states that have largley voted republican in past elections, and that largely abandoned the party last nominee. While it is unrealistic to expect the party's nominee to win a majority of southern states, democrats have reason to be optimistic in specific states that have been ravaged through natural causes or through the effects of economic outsourcing. States such as North Carolina, tennesse, Lousianna, and West Virginia should provide the party's nominee with an opportunity to challenge republicans on their own turf. The extent to which democrats are able to challenge republicans on their own choice will largely be determined by their choice of candidate. To succeed, the party's nominee will need more than slick adds and clever sound bites. If the candidacy of John Kerry proved anything it was that voters are suspicious of politicians who feign commanderie, and who lay claim to values that seem at odds with their voting record. No where was this more evident than in the efforts of John Kerry to persuade gun owners that he would not intrude upon their right to bear arms. Democrats can ill afford to nominate another candidates whose values are seen as antithetical to most americans, and whose patrician habits reinforced negative perceptions regarding his understanding of working americans. Unlike John Kerry, Mark Warner shares none of these faults and represents the party's best chance of reasonating with southern voters. A skilled administrator, Governor Warner posseses has earned the respect of virginians across the state, and engendered the respect of both democrats and republicans. A southern, centralist, Governor Warner has demonstrated his commitment to fiscal integrity, economic justice, and family values. Governor Warner has demonstrated a commitment to building healthy communities in which families can thrive. His ability to speak to commonly held values distinguishes him from many of his colleagues, who while intellectually gifted, lack the governor ability to empathasize with the common man. His ability to understand the challenges of working americans will allow Governor Warner to build coalitions with groups that have viewede the democratic party with suspicion, and who increasingly see themselves as culturally under attack. Finally it should be noted that the governors ability to forge coalitions with members of the opposing party did not lead him to abandone his principles. As supporters have accurately noted Governor Warner did not solve Virginia's budget woes by sacrificing education or by increasingly the burden on the states poorest. Rather than driving thousands more into poverty, Governor Warner asked the sates richest to pay their fair share. His plan to restore fiscal integrity to the state of Virgina reflected the governors belief in basic values such as fairness. Such values would reasonate with voters in both the north and the south. Unlike many of his rivals they are values that stem from the governors heart, and it is through empathic values such as compassion that democrats can re-take the south. Governor's Warner's accomplishments suggest that he above all others is most suited to the task of restoring compassion to the oval office.