Pundits have been wondering who Obama will choose to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic convention. After all, it was John Kerry's choice of Obama to deliver the keynote in 2004 that helped thrust him into the national spotlight. The decision has been announced -- Virginia's Mark Warner, we learned via campaign press release:
The Obama for America Campaign announced today that former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address at the 2008 Democratic Convention on Tuesday, August 26th, the second night of the Convention.Now all the pundits can get back to obsessing about the vice presidential picks.
An innovative businessman known for his ability to work with Republicans, Democrats and Independents, campaign officials said that Warner’s vision for Virginia and his leadership style echoed the Convention’s theme of Americans coming together for change.
“Barack Obama believes you can’t have a strong economy when you have a weak middle class,” said Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe. “Millions of Americans are struggling to get by, forced to make impossible choices about their future and the future of their families. Tuesday’s Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Obama’s concerns and strongly support his detailed economic plan to grow the economy, create jobs, restore fairness, and expand opportunity. As Governor of Virginia, Warner used his experience in business to help deliver jobs and hope to the citizens of Virginia. His work creating jobs in Southwest and Southside Virginia is a model for the rest of the Country. Like Barack Obama, Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving. It’s that kind of spirit and innovation that resulted in his selection as keynote speaker on a night when we will be discussing how to renew America’s promise.”
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