As Close to a President as I Get
There were some who tried to draft former Virginia Governor Mark Warner for the 2008 Presidential Election. But Warner decided to run for the U.S. Senate, hoping to replace Senator John Warner, who is retiring. It was also rumored that Warner was on a Democratic list as a Vice Presidential possibility before his Senate run announcement.
Warner turned up at FloydFest this past Thursday night. He briefly spoke from the festival main stage, but did not strum an instrument like he did at the Country Store Jamboree this past November, in town campaigning with/for our current Governor, Tim Kaine. Not new to Floyd, Warner also campaigned at the country store with Jim Webb in 2006, and held a town meeting at the store in 2005.
Eating a meal in the FloydFest hospitality tent, Warner playfully referred to himself as “an unemployed Governor,” and joked that campaigning earlier that day was just an excuse to end up at FloydFest.
He was friendly to me (even before I told him that I was a blogger who sometimes writes for the Floyd Press and that it was possible that a photo of him might end up in the paper or on my blog at least). Even though I resisted, he insisted I pose with him for a picture (The above is not the photo I submitted to the Floyd Press but it is the best shot of him in his FloydFest Family Affair T-shirt.)
After his meal, he walked through the crowd, introducing himself and shaking hands with festival goers. He, an outgoing and popular governor that even some Republicans like, was obviously enjoying himself. One of his three aides (all in their twenties) said that Warner was hard to keep up with.
Note: Read more about FloydFest below or HERE. The more formal version of the above appeared in The Floyd Press HERE.
July 26th, 2008 11:18 am
He’s definitely in touch with the people! What fun that he came to FF…
July 26th, 2008 11:27 am
Warner gave the commencement address at my daughter’s college graduation. I was very impressed by him. He’s got a bright future.
One of these years I’m going to meet you at Floyd Fest, and that’s a promise!
July 26th, 2008 5:09 pm
Warner has always been impressive. I met him in person when he was campaigning and he had a lot of charisma.
July 26th, 2008 7:53 pm
not related to Liz’s former husband right??
July 26th, 2008 10:36 pm
I think he would make a good presidential choice. He is impressive.
I had to laugh at your Thursday 13 shout out. That was funny. And I liked your below family affair post. It really is nice that people can have fun and enjoy themselves and still have children with them if they like. It is a very brotherly loving atmosphere…a live and let live, non-judgemental, super hospitable group of people. I’m glad the loud, obnoxious red-neck sorta drunk doesn’t attend! (and keeping my fingers crossed they never do!)
July 26th, 2008 11:45 pm
The Republican John Warner who is retiring from the Senate was married to Liz for a time. Mark Warner is a Democrat.
July 27th, 2008 4:51 am
mark warner has a great reputation all over the country. i was a bit disappointed to hear he was not interested in being on a ticket. some people had expected he might run for president himself. i imagine that is in his future.
July 25th, 2010 11:52 pm
[…] lovers.” Later, when I saw him back in the hospitality tent he said he didn’t remember meeting me at Floydfest 2 years ago, but he happily posed for photos when I […]
July 26th, 2010 6:10 pm
[…] lovers.” Later, when I saw him back in the hospitality tent he said he didn’t remember meeting me at Floydfest 2 years ago when he as an unemployed governor. He’s a senator now, still a nice […]
October 6th, 2013 10:52 am
[…] Floyd Country Store is a popular venue for political candidates. Past Governors and Senators Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Jim Webb, and even Vice President Joe Biden, have all come to the Country Store, a […]