Washington Whispers

Tim Kaine’s New Role: Bridge to the South

January 20, 2010 RSS Feed Print

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

All eyes are on Tim Kaine as he becomes the full-time boss of the Democratic Party after turning over the keys to the Virginia governor’s mansion. Party big shots are eager to see what role he’ll play. Typically, party national chairmen take orders from the White House when the party has the presidency, but the moderate Kaine is different, having turned Republican-red Virginia a bipartisan purple. “He can be our bridge to the South,” says a party source. Others are curious with how he will deal with the organization’s split personality: the traditional Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign shop, Organizing for America, which some say has an elevated status because of the Obama connection.