Obama taps Kaine as new face of Dems

President-elect Barack Obama introduced close friend and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine this afternoon as the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee, casting Kaine as the future of a party adapting to its new bigfoot status in Washington.

Obama, citing his broad-based victory in November, said Kaine -- a centrist, culturally conservative Democrat -- represents precisely the new politics that the Democratic Party must embody to grow and thrive.

"It would be a mistake to take our success as a sign that our work is somehow complete," Obama said. "We cannot afford to abandon the movement we built. We must strengthen it."

Kaine, he said, shares the "pragmatic, progressive philosophy that was at the heart of my campaign and will be at the heart of my administration."

Kaine, in contrast to virtually every other Obama appointee, spoke extemporaneously in publicly accepting the post, saying his tasks would be supporting Obama's agenda, carrying the "proud banner" of the Democratic Party, and keeping supporters engaged. He also cited the success of him and other moderate Democrats in turning Virginia into an increasingly blue state.

"We haven't done it because of the letter after our name," he said. "We've done it because we've made the party in Virginia, working every day, a problem-solver and unifier ... That will be the same mode I try to carry as DNC chair."

One thorny question Kaine will face immediately is how to fold Obama's supporters -- many of whom were Republicans and independents -- into an explicitly partisan apparatus.

Obama also had glowing words for outgoing chairman Howard Dean, calling him a "visionary" in his expansion of the party's electoral map. "Howard deserves enormous credit for helping usher in a new era in Washington," he said.

Dean wasn't present for the announcement at DNC headquarters, which has the political wags talking. But he did issue a statement praising Kaine.

“ I was actively engaged in Tim’s campaign for governor in 2005, and knew then he would become one of our Party’s great leaders. Tim's strong record of accomplishment has resulted in Virginia being named the best managed state in America and includes numerous important victories for Virginians including record breaking efforts in land conservation, increased funding for Virginia's schools and the newly approved rail transit line to Dulles Airport.

“Tim understands the importance of reaching out to everyone, standing up for our values and I know he will continue to build and strengthen our party from the grassroots up. Tim is the right choice to lead the Democratic National Committee into this new era of American politics. Democrats have made great gains over the past four years, but we know we still have work to do to ensure that we keep Americamoving forward as we support President-elect Obama’s agenda to address the critical issues facing our country.