Obama Names Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine As Head Of Democratic Party

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - President-elect Barack Obama named Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine the new chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Thursday, calling the governor, one of his earliest supporters, a good friend and a pragmatic leader who believes that "politics is about something more than what all too often it's become in Washington."

In a press conference at the DNC headquarters, Obama said, "Tim and I share a philosophy. It's a pragmatic, progressive philosophy that was at the heart of my campaign and will be at the heart of this administration. [It] measures the strength of an idea not by whether it's Republican or Democrat, but whether it can actually solve a problem and make a difference in people's lives."

"We must build a movement for change that can endure beyond a single election, and that will require redoubling our efforts to reach out to Americans," the president-elect also said. "It will require finding candidates for elective office whose policies are rooted not in ideology, but in what works. It will require shedding our ingrained habits of taking money from federal lobbyists and special interests, and relying instead on small donations from ordinary Americans."

Kaine, who was shortlisted to be Obama's running mate during the campaign last year, leaves as governor January next year because of the one-term limit law in his state. The 50-year old Democrat will serve as part-time chair until his term ends. He officially takes over the chairmanship from Howard Dean on Jan. 21, a day after Obama is sworn into office.

"I signed on to Barack Obama's campaign for presidency in February of 2007, early, with a great deal of confidence in him," Kaine said in the press conference. "I'm so proud of the campaign that he ran, and proud of my native state of Virginia, which supported him in a very unusual way, after not having supported a Democratic candidate for 44 years."

"I hope to do three things as DNC chair. I want to promote this president's agenda. I want to carry the proud banner of a proud party. And I want to work to creatively engage citizens in new ways through this party to be active in civic life," he added.

The outgoing DNC chair had only strong praise for Kaine, whom he said was the right choice for the party at this time when a new kind of politics is beginning.

"I was actively engaged in Tim's campaign for governor in 2005, and I knew then he would become one of our Party's great leaders," Dean said in a statement. "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."

"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," he added.

Obama also devoted considerable attention to Dean in his announcement on Thursday, saying the party is in a strong position to rebuild because of Dean's "outstanding" work as chair.

"For nearly four years, Howard has served our party and our nation as a visionary and effective leader. He launched a 50-state strategy that made Democrats competitive in places they had not been in years...having steered the Democratic Party through two successful elections, Howard deserves enormous credit for helping usher in a new era in Washington," the president-elect said.