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Kaine downplays Democratic losses in Virginia and New Jersey.

RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) - Assessing the national political landscape on the morning after his party lost two closely-watched gubernatorial elections, Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine said Wednesday that voters shouldn't draw too many conclusions from the two Republican victories as they look ahead to the 2010 midterms.

"There isn't really any historical connection between off-cycle elections in New Jersey and Virginia and next year's midterm elections," Kaine said during a press conference at the State Capitol complex in Richmond, where he serves as Virginia governor.

Kaine said he had several conversations with the White House about the races since last night, but he has not spoken directly with the president.

The governor suggested that both races hinged on local rather than national issues and that the president "was not really a factor" in either contest. While a majority of voters in both states said the president did not influence their choice for governor, exit polls indicated that national issues like the economy and health care weighed heavily on voters' minds.

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Virginia governor Tim Kaine is hoping the governor's mansion remains in Democratic hands.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Virginia governor Tim Kaine, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, acknowledged Friday a "challenging" environment for Democrats in his home state but held out hope that his party's gubernatorial nominee could still rally the voters who helped President Obama win Virginia last November.

Kaine also downplayed anonymous quotes from administration officials about Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds that appeared Friday in The Washington Post. Unnamed administration officials told the paper that if Deeds loses, it will be his own fault for shunning White House advice and not doing enough to embrace President Obama on the campaign trail.

"I tend not to comment on the comments of unnamed sources," Kaine told CNN in a phone interview from Atlanta, where he was meeting with party activists. "We still have more work to do and it's challenging, but I know the president is very interested in the race. The president has been very solicitous."

Kaine said the president, whom he last spoke to about the race on Tuesday night, is "very excited" to make his second appearance for Deeds next week in Norfolk. The Virginia governor, a confidante of Obama since the early day's of his presidential campaign, said he talks to the president "a good bit" about the campaign but said he talks to Deeds more often, "every day, or every other day."

The DNC chair said Deeds' path to victory is clear: "Energizing the president's supporters, energizing those who approve of how Democrats are govering Virginia." Asked if Deeds has done a good enough job doing so in his race against Republican Bob McDonnell, Kaine said Deeds "is working hard to do so" but admitted that Democrats in the state aren't as excited for this election as they were one year ago.

"It is the case that last year was a catharsis for our side," he said. "It was that way nationally and in Virginia. I do think people are seeing stark differences between the two tickets. They are waking up a little late, but they're definitely waking up."

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The competitive gubernatorial race in Virginia is set to be showered with $1 million cash from the DNC.

(CNN) – The competitive gubernatorial race in Virginia is set to be showered with $1 million cash at the behest of Democratic National Committee Chairman and current Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, CNN has confirmed.

The DNC, which for months has heavily focused on this off year gubernatorial race as well as that in New Jersey, has already pumped $5 million into the contest that appears to be getting tighter as Election Day looms.

A Democratic loss in either the Virginia race or that in New Jersey, where Republican challenger Chris Christie appears to have a slight edge over incumbent Jon Corzine, is likely to be seen as a referendum on President Barack Obama's polices a year after he was elected. A victory in either state could also give the GOP instant momentum heading into the 2010 midterm election season.

Republicans have equally showered the Commonwealth with campaign cash over the last several months, sending nearly $7 million to GOP candidate Bob McDonnell's bid in part to fend off attacks over his 20 year-old masters thesis that partially criticized working women.

McDonnell was also the beneficiary of a $350,000 cash haul last Monday thanks to a pair of fundraisers headlined by GOP stars Newt Gingrich and Bobby Jindal.

The DNC is also set to dispatch staffers across the state to beef-up grass roots and turn out efforts the party utilized so effectively in the state on Election Day last year. Turnout is expected to be considerably less than last year, when Obama was on the ballot, a fact that could favor McDonnell's effort.

A recent Washington Post poll suggests McDonnell maintains a 4 point edge of Deeds, 51 to 57 percent. That poll was conducted September 15-17 and carries a sampling error of plus or mine 3 three percentage points.

Kaine serves as both Virginia governor and DNC chairman.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Democratic National Committee said Wednesday it will pump $5 million into the commonwealth of Virginia over the next two months to help put Creigh Deeds in the governor's mansion.

The money will be doled out to Deeds' campaign and to the Democratic Party of Virginia's coordinated campaign. The $5 million infusion matches the sum given by the DNC in 2005 to then-candidate Tim Kaine, who won the race. Kaine himself is now chairing the DNC, and losing this year's marquee race in his own backyard could prove embarrassing.

"Chairman Kaine knows a thing or two about winning elections in Virginia - and he knows more than a thing or two about Creigh Deeds and how well prepared he is to be a solid, practical, mainstream Governor of Virginia," DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse said in an e-mail.

The cash influx will help Deeds purchase television ads in the expensive Washington media market - especially as his campaign tries to highlight Republican Bob McDonnell's controversial master's thesis, in which he called working women "detrimental" to families. Woodhouse called the revelations about McDonnell's thesis "a real turning point in this election."

McDonnell, leading in the polls, said his views on several social issues have changed in the two decades since he wrote the thesis at age 34 - but that hasn't stopped the Deeds campaign from assailing the Republican as too conservative for moderate and independent voters.

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Tim Kaine, right, performed at a fundraiser along with Boyd Tinsely of the Dave Matthews Band.

(CNN) – Tim Kaine is a multi-tasker. He's currently holding down two jobs, governing the state of Virginia while also serving as President Obama's partisan-in-chief at the Democratic National Committee.

And he plays a mean harmonica.

Clad in khaki pants and a blue plaid shirt, and occasionally tapping his feet, Kaine showed off his musical talents last Friday night in Richmond at a fundraiser for his political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward.

Joined on a stage by Boyd Tinsley, the violinist for the Dave Matthews Band, Kaine performed a few songs on his harmonica, including Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." He even serenaded the audience of Democrats, offering supporting vocals on a cover version of the bluegrass track "Will the Circle be Unbroken."

A savvy politician, Kaine was sure to lower expectations before his performance.

"Be gentle with me," he told the crowd. "Boyd gave me a big plug about being a great musician. Not so great. But hey, you've already paid, so you're not getting your money back."

Kaine is an old hand when it comes to jamming with a bluegrass groups. During his 2005 campaign and in his time in office, the governor has often hopped on stages at cultural festivals and political events to show off his harmonica skills.

Still, no bluegrass anthem has been recorded in Kaine's honor, as was the case with "The Ballad of Mark Warner," a tune by the Bluegrass Brothers that served as the unofficial soundtrack of Warner's 2001 gubernatorial bid.

Kaine is welcoming Specter into the Democratic Party with open arms.

(CNN) - Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine wants to make sure Arlen Specter feels right at home in the Democratic Party.

Kaine sent out an e-mail to more than 250,000 Democratic activists in Pennsylvania encouraging them to write a note on the party's Web site welcoming Specter.

"Join me in welcoming Senator Specter as he joins President Obama and Senate Democrats to create jobs and put the country back on the right track," Kaine wrote in the e-mail.

Virginia governor Tim Kaine was Obama's choice to lead the DNC.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has signed a bill into law banning the use of some state funds for embryonic stem cell research.

The move puts the DNC chairman at odds with President Obama, who signed an executive order earlier this month reversing the Bush administration's ban on federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells.

Kaine approved the Virginia bill on Monday, according to the governor's office, the same day he enacted legislation that would permit "Choose Life" license plates in the commonwealth - an act that angered state and national abortion rights advocates.

The governor signed another piece of legislation Monday aimed at promoting "science and technology-based" research and development in Virginia. It contains language inserted by the General Assembly that would prevent a state fund from providing dollars to organizations or businesses that undertake "research in Virginia on human cells or tissue derived from induced abortions or from stem cells obtained from human embryos."

Kaine's support for the legislation is not surprising: He is a staunch Catholic who has long opposed using taxpayer money for embryonic stem cell research. But the platform of the Democratic Party, now headed by Kaine at Obama's behest, describes embryonic stem cell research as "research that could save lives."

Both the stem cell bill and the license plate uproar highlight the balancing act Kaine faces in his dual roles of the moment: one as policy-minded governor of a moderate state, and another as a the national face for a partisan organization seeking to promote President Obama agenda. Kaine will assume the DNC position full time when his term expires in January.

Asked for comment about Kaine's departure from the national party line, the DNC referred questions to the governor's office in Richmond.

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Virginia governor Tim Kaine became DNC chairman in January.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine on Tuesday dismissed the committee's disappointing February cash haul, arguing that his fundraising efforts were handicapped by a Virginia law that prohibits officials from raising money during the state's legislative session.

The DNC last week reported raising $3.3 million in February, nearly $2 million less than the Republican National Committee's total for the month.

"Fundraising stories don't interest me that much," Kaine said today, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "I was unable to raise any money in February, by law."

Kaine, who is serving as DNC chair while finishing out his term as Virginia governor, wrapped up work with the state's General Assembly on February 28.

"That is the reason that the numbers aren't going to be what they're going to be in future months," said Kaine, who became DNC chairman in late January.

Though Kaine says he was forbidden from raising cash for the DNC during the Virginia legislative session, he did take the time to attend two Virginia fundraisers during the session that pumped money into the state Democratic party's coffers. He did not directly solicit cash during those in-session appearances, however.

Kaine said Tuesday that observers should "stay tuned" now that he's free to solicit donation.

"I think you're going to see good numbers," he said.

Limbaugh is 'the godfather' of the GOP, said DNC chairman Tim Kaine.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The chairman of the Democratic National Committee persisted Tuesday in calling attention to his Republican counterpart Michael Steele’s apology to Rush Limbaugh, describing the radio host as “the Wizard of Oz” and “the godfather” of the GOP.

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine told CNN that Steele’s backpedaling from earlier criticisms of the talk show host proves that Limbaugh is "the Wizard of Oz, you know, who kind of oversees everything" in the Republican Party.

Earlier in the day, Kaine told MSNBC that Limbaugh is “clearly the godfather, or the he-who-must-be-obeyed in Republican politics these days.”

“When Chairman Steele over the weekend pointed out that the kinds of comments that Rush Limbaugh has been making, hoping the president will fail, pointing out that those were ugly and incendiary, I thought that that took some guts to say that,” Kaine told CNN.

“But then the fact that he backtracked immediately leaves me wondering, okay, so is Rush Limbaugh the guy that's really in charge of the party?”

Democrats are eager to highlight the GOP skirmish: Kaine made several cable appearances Tuesday and released two statements criticizing Steele after the RNC chair called Limbaugh to apologize for calling him an “entertainer” and saying his comments can be “ugly.”

Story updated 12:36 p.m.

State party chairs want the '50-state strategy' to continue under Kaine and Obama.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – When Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, the new executive director of the Democratic National Committee, concluded her brief remarks to a meeting of state party chairs in Washington on Wednesday, she got a clear and simple reminder of what DNC members want from the committee’s new leadership.

"Jen, you don’t really need to hear any questions," New Hampshire party chairman Raymond Buckley told her. "We have three words for you: '50-state strategy.'"

That now-famous program, implemented by outgoing chairman Howard Dean in 2005, placed paid DNC staffers in both red and blue states around the country and was premised on the philosophy that Democrats can be competitive anywhere as long as they show up, work hard and ask for votes.

But now that Dean is gone and Virginia governor Tim Kaine has been installed as President Barack Obama's pick to lead the organization, some of the party chairs who gathered at the DNC’s annual Winter Meeting this week expressed anxiety that the precious resources doled out by the committee could vanish as the new administration takes control of the party machinery.

The DNC-funded field staff positions expired on election day, and the party chairs - particularly those in states long dismissed by national Democrats - want the hiring practice renewed.

"Right now all 50 of the state chairs are on pins and needles," said Oklahoma Democratic chairman Ivan Holmes. "It's possible they could undo in one year what it's taken four years for Dean to do if they don't embrace the 50-state strategy financially, and let the chairs have input on who they hire and what their duties are."

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Kaine was tapped to lead the DNC earlier this month.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The incoming chairman of the Democratic National Committee said Friday he wants Barack Obama's army of campaign volunteers to help the new president move his economic stimulus package through Congress, one more sign that the new administration plans to harness their vast campaign network to pressure lawmakers on policy matters.

In a YouTube video e-mailed to DNC supporters on Friday, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine answered questions from Democrats around the country, including one from an Indiana woman who asked Kaine how he plans to keep Obama supporters motivated post-election.

"President-elect Obama right from the start has to work with Congress to make sure we pass a stimulus package that will get the economy growing again," Kaine said in the video.

"We've got to get the American people to weigh in about the urgency of it and the importance of it," he added. "And that’s a way we can actually use the campaign volunteers to actually now make policy that’s right for the nation."

He also said campaign volunteers could be mobilized in more traditional ways, such as helping Democrats win governor’s races later this year in New Jersey and Virginia.

Kaine's remarks follow a Wednesday report in the Los Angeles Times that outlined a potential blueprint for the new president's political operation, in which the White House political office and the DNC would use existing campaign volunteers and newly hired staffers to organize grassroots pressure on elected officials.

An Obama transition official would not comment on that report.

Will President-elect Obama turn over information about his millions-strong online supporter network to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the new head of the DNC?

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Has President-elect Barack Obama found the person to entrust with his predominantly online network of millions of supporters?

Obama's announcement of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to lead the Democratic National Committee suggests the president-elect has plans to reshape his party to resemble Obama's modern, grassroots-oriented presidential campaign.

"Now is the time ... to remake the Democratic Party to meet the challenges of the 21st century," Obama said recently. "And no one is better suited to help lead this effort than ... my good friend Gov. Tim Kaine."

During the campaign, the Obama operation garnered approximately 13 million e-mail addresses, a million sign-ups for the Obama camp's text-messaging service, 2 million participants in the campaign's proprietary social network on MyBarackObama.com, and 5 million supporters on more than 15 other social networking sites including Facebook, according to a report by Washingtonpost.com.

Contact information for Obama's supporters could be used to motivate them to come out and show their support for his policies or to encourage grassroots organizing.

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President-elect Obama announced Thursday that he's chosen his friend and supporter Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to run the DNC.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Barack Obama formally announced Thursday that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, one of the president-elect’s closest allies who was once on the short list to become his running mate, will run the Democratic National Committee.

Watch: Obama announces Kaine as new head of DNC

Appearing with Kaine at DNC headquarters in Washington, Obama said the party must build on his campaign’s success by reaching out to Americans in every state and recruiting new candidates that share his governing philosophy.

“We must build a movement for change that can endure beyond a single election,” Obama said.

The man for that job, he said, is Kaine. Obama called the Virginia governor a progressive problem-solver who also understands that “politics is tough.”

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(CNN) - Virginia Gov. Time Kaine has been tapped to serve as chairman of the Democratic National Committee to replace Howard Dean, two Democratic officials told CNN Sunday.

Kaine will serve on a part-time basis until his term as governor expires, the officials said.

Full story

–CNN Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry contributed to this report.

Kaine told CNN at a concert Sunday he was flattered Obama considered him for VP.

Denver (CNN) – Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, considered one of the top contenders for Barack Obama's running mate, doesn't appear disappointed that Joe Biden got the job instead.

Kaine grinned, clapped and danced to Sheryl Crow's music Sunday night at the Green Sunday concert at the scenic Red Rocks amphitheater in Denver. He was joined by his wife, Ann Holton.

Kaine told CNN he thinks Biden is "going to be great" and praised the senior senator from Delaware for his foreign policy experience and his work on the Judiciary Committee.

"He really plays it from the heart," Kaine said of Biden. "I think he will serve [Obama] well and he and Obama will make a great team."

When Crow dedicated her song, "Strong Enough," to Obama and Biden, Kaine put down his Coors Light and applauded. Crow switched up the chorus to "are you strong enough to be my man, my president."

Kaine said he was just happy to have been mentioned for Obama's number two spot. Now his focus is turning Virginia blue, noting that his state is in play for the first time since 1964.

"We're trying to get Virginia votes locked into Barack's column," Kaine said. "If we can win Virginia, he will be the next president."

Kaine later took the stage at Red Rocks to introduce musician Dave Matthews and fired up the crowd by hitting McCain for infamously not knowing how many homes he owns.

"You can't make this stuff up folks," Kaine shouted.

He admitted that when he signed onto Obama's campaign in 2007 it looked "pretty steep."

"We're not there yet but we can see it," he concluded.

Obama and Kaine met privately Thursday.

(CNN) - For those in the business of examining each of Barack Obama's moves for a potential hint of who will be named the Democratic VP, buzz circulated after the Illinois senator held a private meeting with Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and his staff Thursday morning.

Watch: Ed Henry on the Obama VP pick

Both men were mum on what was discussed, and Kaine - considered to be among those at the top of Obama's VP shortlist - wouldn't comment on whether he was offered the coveted position.

"I'm going to let the campaign speak for the campaign," Kaine said, and later refused to indicate whether he had been ruled out for the position. "He visited with my staff just to basically say hi to them and thank them for all their hard work."

Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the presumptive Democratic nominee also took a photo with Kaine's staff before the two headed to a campaign event in Chester, Virginia.

Gov. Kaine campaigned for Sen. Obama in Leesburg, Virginia last week.

(CNN) - As the veepstakes continue to dominate headlines, plenty of politicians have made it clear they’re not going to be on the Democratic ticket this fall. But with the final announcement perhaps just hours away, one of the men rumored to be at the top of Barack Obama’s VP shortlist declined a chance to clarify his own status.

Asked by CNN American Morning’s John Roberts whether the fact that he’d agreed to an interview at the height of the pre-announcement frenzy meant he would not be Obama’s running mate, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine demurred.

“You’ll just have to hear from the campaign, and they’ll make the announcement when [they’re] ready,” said Kaine.

Is Kaine still on the list? “I’ll go back to that answer,” said Kaine. “I’ll call that taking the fifth or something. Hear from the campaign, John. They’ll let us all know when they want to.”

Kaine also would not say whether or not he had been through the VP vetting process. “I’m going to stick with the first answer. It’s been flattering to be mentioned. My mom in Kansas City loves it when someone will talk about me as VP.”

Obama and Kaine are scheduled to campaign together in Virginia today.

Obama spoke highly of vice presidential contender Tim Kaine on Wednesday.

(CNN) – After giving a shout out to perceived vice presidential shortlister Sen. Joe Biden on Tuesday, Obama praised another leading contender, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, while campaigning Wednesday in the southern part of the state.

With former Virginia governor – and U.S. Senate candidate – Mark Warner at his side, Obama applauded the two governors for the worked they’ve done to make cars more fuel-efficient.

“We’ve got to partner with our governors to come up with these plans the way that Mark Warner did such a wonderful job when he was governor and the way that Tim Kaine is currently doing such a great job as governor of Virginia.”

Kaine and Biden are believed to be the frontrunners for Obama’s number 2 spot along with Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. Further fueling speculation that Kaine could get the nod, the campaign announced that he will host a town hall with Obama Thursday in a Richmond suburb.

Obama was in Martinsville, Virginia Tuesday to discuss the economy and in addition to slamming former McCain economic advisor Sen. Phil Gramm’s infamous “mental recession” comments, Obama continued to tie the Arizona senator to President Bush.

“Let’s face it, he has a compelling biography, he is a POW, and so that’s what people kind of think about instead of focusing on the fact that he wants to continue the same economic policies that George Bush has been doing for the last 8 years,” said Obama. “So my job in this election is to say I honor his service but I don’t honor his policies and I don’t honor his politics.”

Sen. Barack Obama has a big event scheduled Saturday. Will his No. 2 man (or woman) be by his side?

(CNN) - The question is starting to feel a little old: Who will Barack Obama pick as his vice president?

With the clock ticking (the Democratic VP candidate delivers a big speech next Wednesday) the announcement is at most days and at least a few hours away.

Everyday seems to be "the day" - the day the guessing game will finally end.

In a poke at all of the VP buzz, the Obama campaign on Wednesday sent an e-mail to reporters with the subject line "Vice presidential ..."

The first line of the e-mail: "Just kidding." The e-mail contained details about Obama's schedule with no mention of any of the potential vice presidential candidates.

But if the top contenders have any inside information, they're doing a good job of keeping quiet.

Sen. Joe Biden on Tuesday told reporters camped outside his Delaware home that it's not him.

"You got better things to do guys; I'm not the guy," he said.

Asked where he would be on Saturday - when Obama is reportedly scheduled to hold a campaign event in Springfield, Illinois, that may feature his new running mate - Biden replied, "Here," pointing to his driveway.

He softened up a little later that night, telling reporters, "I promise you, I don't know anything."

Along with Biden, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine are considered to be among the top tier of VP contenders.

Full story

Kaine is one of Obama's most ardent backers.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – With vice presidential speculation reaching fever pitch, Barack Obama's campaign said Tuesday that the Democrat will campaign in central Virginia later this week alongside V.P. contender Gov. Tim Kaine.

Kaine and Obama will host an invitation-only town hall meeting on Thursday in Chesterfield County, a suburb of Richmond. Kaine's sturdy performance in the traditionally conservative Richmond suburbs helped vault him to the governorship in 2005.

Kaine, the former mayor of Richmond, is widely regarded as one of the three top candidates for a slot on the Democratic ticket, along with Delaware Senator Joseph Biden and Indiana Senator Evan Bayh.

Obama has scheduled a campaign event for Saturday at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, where he kicked off his presidential bid - but the campaign would neither confirm or deny whether the candidate will appear with his running mate.

Obama will also stump in the commonwealth on Wednesday with Virginia’s other two Democratic stars, Senator Jim Webb and former Governor and current Senate candidate Mark Warner, who is scheduled to keynote the Democratic National Convention in Denver.