January 7, 2009
Posted: January 7th, 2009 04:25 PM ET

From
 President-elect Obama is set to give a speech Thursday.
President-elect Obama is set to give a speech Thursday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Two Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama will go to DNC headquarters on Capitol Hill Thursday to pass the leadership torch of the party to incoming chairman Tim Kaine, the current governor of Virginia.

Kaine, an early backer of Obama’s presidential campaign who was also on the vice presidential short list, recently agreed to take the helm of the DNC on a part-time basis until his term as governor expires in a year.

Kaine succeeds Howard Dean, who long planned to step down at the end of the election cycle, after a fairly successful run as chairman of the party. Dean’s “50-state Strategy” of trying to compete in Republican states that Democrats had previously given up on was initially laughed off by some in his party, but the plan was at least partially vindicated in November when Obama carried swing states like Virginia in the presidential race.

Before his visit to the DNC, Obama will deliver what aides are billing as a major economic speech at George Mason University in Virginia. But Democratic officials are cautioning the president-elect will still be somewhat circumspect about the details of the $775 billion economic recovery plan his staff is putting together.

“He will look at the problem, how we got there and lay out how to fix it,” said one Democratic official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to publicly discuss the speech. “But I would not expect a lot of details.”

Democratic officials contend they are holding back on specifics out of deference to Congress, with one official saying the transition team does not want to “dictate to the Congress” on the plan. But holding back on details could also enable the transition team to delay efforts by critics to start shooting down controversial pieces of the program.

Filed under: Barack Obama • DNC • Economy • Obama transition


Proud American   January 7th, 2009 8:58 pm ET

Sue January 7th, 2009 5:29 pm ET

Is Mr. Obama's sister, who is an illegal immigrant, still ensconced in her apartment which is paid for with government monies and still employed by the government? What has this man done about her status in this country? Where is the information on her? Why isn't he speaking up about her???
______________________________________________________
Good Lord, little Idiot why hasn't your mother had you commit?

Patricia Hubbard   January 7th, 2009 8:40 pm ET

This is a test.
Nothing that I've written has ever been posted on this site but maybe this will be posted because it's more rational than all of the hateful and vile comments that you choose to post everyday. The majority of people posting on this site would be better off if they just vanish from the face of this earth because they don't don't want thiscountry to get back on it's feet. They would rather hate so that they can validate their miserable lives instead of doing away with their hate and get up and do something to make this nation great again

ga.   January 7th, 2009 8:40 pm ET

we are blessed to have such a caring president and vice president to lead us back to honor and justice. Jan. 20, 2009

BB   January 7th, 2009 8:23 pm ET

Gonna be a busy 12 days. Then we start healing – slowly, for sure, but healing.

clifford   January 7th, 2009 8:22 pm ET

Obama can now make educated decisions after getting advice from the the Current President and three former Presidents today! Isn't that SPECIAL??

RMGofCO   January 7th, 2009 8:21 pm ET

Tom: I am an African American (or as you say, minority) and I have voted in EVERY election. I feel I am mandated, as a citizen of the great country, to do whatever I can to support whoever is in office.

I could go on but I won't ~ you get my message. Shame on you and Sue (I am really concerned for her and her hatred).

No Hillary = No Obama   January 7th, 2009 8:19 pm ET

This will be another political appointment – someone who fell in line to support Obama. Obama seems to reward people who supported him, not the best person for the job – look at Panetta, look at the intellectual cherry picking that's going on to stack his cabinet.

RMGofCO   January 7th, 2009 8:16 pm ET

And so it begins...just a few more days and this man will be our President. How proud we should be ~ the United States of American(s).

Mr. Dean will be remembered for his leadership and we wish him well. Marva, yes...he and his family, well I just kinda tear up. What a wonderful time in our history.

He cannot do it alone but I have no fear of his future leadership.

lol   January 7th, 2009 8:12 pm ET

howard dean was a great dnc chair, sad that he has to leave. maybe he can run for president again, that would be GREAT!

Danny   January 7th, 2009 7:56 pm ET

Hooray for VA. We have a speech at GMU, ranked #1 University to watch by US News; our governor appointed the head of the DNC; and have painted the state blue across the board (with the exception of a few congressional seats). Nonetheless..what a feat!

Hammer   January 7th, 2009 7:48 pm ET

I'm happy that he did not chose Gov. Blagojievich although he knows how to get things moving.

tom   January 7th, 2009 7:41 pm ET

Oh...and Amber there really is no difference between communists and liberals...both are looney leftists, so the saying fits either equally well. I prefer to live in the real world, like most Americans...just slightly right of center and the reason this will only be the 3rd democratic administration since the sixties will become apparent after Obama Hussein takes over.

Alice Newman Center Harbor NH   January 7th, 2009 7:36 pm ET

, after a fairly successful run as chairman of the party. ..."

What a snarky comment! Dean's 50 state plan has elected an outstanding man for President ... and enough like-minded individuals to help move the country ahead.

Cut out the adjectives, Mr. Henry, or publish on the editorial page as personal opinion!

and for all those waiting to Obama to "do something" – Bush has to leave first! There is only one President at a time... and its not Obama at this moment!

tom   January 7th, 2009 7:34 pm ET

Amber-

Actually not. My purpose was to point out that in what SHOULD have been a landslide, like Nixon-McGovern...relatively speaking, Obama Hussein barely beat John McCain and Sara Palin, whom ALL the evidence suggests the RNC left high and dry since the spring based on their unorganized, underfunded and basically poor campaign. So before all you liberals proclaim a mandate, how about actually DOING something instead of just talking. And while my vote doesn't count any more or less than any other vote, I WILL vote in the next election...the bulk of the minorities and kids that voted (after their drink of koolaide) probably won't happen again.

Especially after all his promises of HOPE and CHANGE fall through.

Promises MUCH easier said than done.

Patricia in Las Vegas   January 7th, 2009 7:21 pm ET

Sue, you really should stop smoking crack.

paul oregon   January 7th, 2009 7:13 pm ET

obama one guestion are you about change or was that b.s. ??????
harry reid is not helping the dem. cause one bit.
i lied ihave another question . how does one go about geting a ballot measure to limit the term of house reps. and sentors?

Cynthia   January 7th, 2009 6:56 pm ET

Just how did Kaine receive this position. Was it pay to play? Were there no other candidates for the job?????????

prosanto   January 7th, 2009 6:54 pm ET

Tim is an excellent choice. I hope he will diversify the executive bunch with qualified, competent people of all stripes/ethnicity, gender or religious belief.

Alice   January 7th, 2009 6:39 pm ET

Its annoying that Blago should be able to weasel in his pick the way he did, but the country has bigger fish to fry.

Reality Check PLEASE   January 7th, 2009 6:27 pm ET

Ummm All of you who CLAIM to be from Virgina are full of it. Tim has done a great Job! Some of the highest employment rates, one of the best educational systems.

gregg45   January 7th, 2009 6:25 pm ET

i could care less whom the messiah picks,,, i just hope its larry flynt........... that was so funny,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and the obots fell for it,,,,,,,, goes to show ,,, lol,, lets foolow my god,,,bye bye obots,,, no welfare for u

Proud American   January 7th, 2009 6:24 pm ET

Here we go hateful republicans are now going to trash Kaine. What a bunch of stupied Idiots.

Chuck Bigalow   January 7th, 2009 6:23 pm ET

What does Howard Dean have to do to get some credit for the election of Barak Obama? CNN's Ed Henry sort of gives him some credit by labelling his tenure as Democratic chair "fairly successful" and by noting that Dr. Dean's 50 state strategy was "partially vindicated". Was Mr. Henry sleeping on election night when the results came in from an overwhelming Democratic victory?

Sue Ellen Stamp   January 7th, 2009 6:22 pm ET

I'm delighted with Tim Kaine's appointment. It seems to me that the man is a square shooter, and he'll do a good job. As far as details of the proposed economic plans President Elect Obama will be speaking on to-morow – don't you think that your expectations are too high – let's face it, Congress has to vet and approve the bill he has put before them before he is intellegently able to release detailed information on the expenditures. Give him a break! He's not even been sworn iin yet!!!

WIlly Brown   January 7th, 2009 6:01 pm ET

Good job for picking th eVA state nitwit little Timmy Kaine. For all he has not done for us here in VA he'll be a grand fit in with th edemocrats of change.

Amber   January 7th, 2009 5:56 pm ET

Tom January 7th, 2009 5:00 pm ET
"But I would not expect any details"…THERE is a surprise, he's been short on details and long on HOPE since day one. But then again he didn't have to fool everybody….just 54%…mostly minorities and kids.

"If not a liberal when you are 20, you have no heart. If still a liberal when you are forty, you've lost your mind."

************

Tom, the operative phrase in that oft-used quote is actually 'communist', not 'liberal'.

54% are kids and minorities, eh? Well whatever, I guess they don't count because they're less American that you are. Oh well, no matter. It must really chafe you that your white Protestant Christian male slice of the demographic pie gets smaller every day.

Want to Know   January 7th, 2009 5:52 pm ET

Anyone know–will O'Bama's speech tomorrowat George Mason University be televised live?

S Callahan   January 7th, 2009 5:45 pm ET

Congrats to Gov. Kaine.

CNN is covering the speech at GMU , right?

J.P..   January 7th, 2009 5:44 pm ET

Barry will say, "The economy... uh... er... uhh... ummm... er... uh..."

To which, that Kennedy chick will back him up, saying, "Yeah, the economy... ya know..."

Otto   January 7th, 2009 5:43 pm ET

Thriteen days to go folks and I am holding an offical invitation. The little guys and gals are also welcome to have a seat at the table. This is a far cry from previous administrations.

Al, California   January 7th, 2009 5:39 pm ET

Many thanks to Howard Dean, hope 50 states strategy will go on even stronger.

Sue   January 7th, 2009 5:29 pm ET

Is Mr. Obama's sister, who is an illegal immigrant, still ensconced in her apartment which is paid for with government monies and still employed by the government? What has this man done about her status in this country? Where is the information on her? Why isn't he speaking up about her???

Kurt C.   January 7th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

Proud American, you're going to have to wait at least 4 years for that, if that is what you're hoping for.

Matt   January 7th, 2009 5:27 pm ET

@ Tom

If a conservative at age 20, you're sleeping. If still a conservative at 40, you never woke up.

Sue   January 7th, 2009 5:22 pm ET

Obama has still never uttered a statement with any information. He aways blah blahs without ever any input. What the hell is he going to do when he has to actually DO SOMETHING???

Veronica   January 7th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

I meant than you God..sorry

Veronica   January 7th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

GOD YOU GOD FOR OUR PRESIDENT ELECT!!!

January 20th cannot get here fast enough!!!!

and yes Marva,he is soooo cute!

CA Indie for Obama   January 7th, 2009 5:16 pm ET

tom,
I voted Nixon (my first vote ever), Ford and Reagan twice. I now vote either indie or democratic, and I am not in a looney bin; I actually work for a living.
if you know you are going to spend $10,000 this year, then GIVE ME THE DETAILS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, you don't have them; how circuspect!...see how it works....
rather have a good plan take a bit longer than a bad, quick one.

Dean did a great job   January 7th, 2009 5:05 pm ET

congrats to Dean and I hope he will stay to help the Dems on the next election cycle and those to come

tom   January 7th, 2009 5:00 pm ET

"But I would not expect any details"...THERE is a surprise, he's been short on details and long on HOPE since day one. But then again he didn't have to fool everybody....just 54%...mostly minorities and kids.

"If not a liberal when you are 20, you have no heart. If still a liberal when you are forty, you've lost your mind."

tired of corporate politics   January 7th, 2009 5:00 pm ET

Hey Tim Kaine, you are the next grand leader!

Oh wait shouldn't we get our puppet president to do the honors, you know, just to make it look good? Yeah give him a call.....
-------

Obama's speech? ...."“But I would not expect a lot of details.” Dude, the elections over, you can start committing to SOMETHING. How do you feel about your promise speech to Israel now that they are attacking in Gaza? That would be a good start.

Virginia   January 7th, 2009 4:58 pm ET

Go away Tim Kaine–our state is in shambles financially, and you have done nothing to improve it except lay off people in the state government and cut more and more money out of the budget. I hope the DNC has enough money to function, or they are in big trouble!

Marva, CT   January 7th, 2009 4:56 pm ET

We hit the jackpot, a smart, cute president who is decent and honorable who wants to do the right thing. He has a lovely wife and two kids and we will support them whole-heartedly for 4 years, hopefully 8.

We did something right America, let's keep it up. Teach your kids to be intelligent and kind. They'll go far and will lead us in the future. Intelligence is NOT enough. Look at the birdbrains on Wall Street. Their parents didn't teach them right from wrong. They're wealthy, but lack good character.

No one will ever remember the Enron guy who stole all those pensions, went to jail and died. No one will ever remember Jerry Falwell fondly, we won't remember Karl Rove except when we think about a scoundrel.

We need more Barack Obamas in the world, not Karl Roves.

Carl from MI   January 7th, 2009 4:55 pm ET

Kaine's a good pick. He'll get the job done.

obama-mama   January 7th, 2009 4:50 pm ET

Go Obama

Floridian   January 7th, 2009 4:49 pm ET

Gov. Kaine is a great choice as the next chairman. Godspeed, sir.

Puff   January 7th, 2009 4:34 pm ET

I suggest he just stay there and not come back.

Newport News, VA   January 7th, 2009 4:32 pm ET

Congratulations Gov. Kaine on your appointment. We are honored to have our new president back in the Commonwealth. Virginia, with our 13 electoral votes is the state that put President-elect Obama over the top. I admire that he is coming here to make such an important speech.

Proud American   January 7th, 2009 4:31 pm ET

Thanks you Mr. President, we look forward to hearing anything you have to say. We thank God for a President who will make sense.

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