Yet the post also sharpened Kaine’s political skills and helped develop a national profile after he left the governor’s mansion in Richmond. And it has boosted his campaign coffers, as the contacts he developed at the DNC have led him to outraise Allen.
Democrats disagree that Kaine’s DNC service could hurt his Senate prospects in Virginia this year. “I think the way he conducted himself is a strength, because what he did was make the Democratic case, but did it in a way that didn’t involve name-
calling,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.).
But Republicans have deliberately referred to Kaine with the honorific “Chairman” rather than “Governor,” and they have branded him Obama’s “cheerleader in chief.”
“Virginians know Tim Kaine chose to be a part-time governor to jet-set as Democrats’ national party chairman while families and businesses faced a struggling economy,” Allen spokeswoman Emily Davis said.
Kaine’s primary responsibility as party chairman was simply to deliver on whatever the president asked. Kaine was an ubiquitous media presence, helping to marshal political muscle behind Obama’s top policy priorities. The jury is still out on whether the health-care law will help or hurt both men in November.
By contrast, Kaine’s predecessor, Howard Dean, had no president and largely set his own course. “He was definitely the right guy for the job, as the job description changed quite remarkably from when I had it,” said Dean, who ran the party when George W. Bush was in office.
Kaine’s biggest challenge as chairman was merging the existing DNC structure with the remnants of Obama’s massive 2008 campaign operation.
“That was not a done deal when he became chairman,” said David Mills, executive director of the Virginia Democratic Party.
Dean praised Kaine for working to “defuse some of the dissatisfaction” within the party as the new bosses moved in after the election. When DNC members grumbled over heavy-handed White House tactics, Democrats say privately, they were more likely to direct their ire at Obama’s top political aides than at Kaine.
“That was a very, very tricky dance, but I think at the end of the day when he left the state, parties were comfortable,” said Jane Stetson, the DNC’s national finance chairman. “He also increased funding for the state parties, so that’s helpful.”
Democrats outraised Republicans during the 2010 cycle — $230 million to $199 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Kaine raised the money without taking contributions from political action committees or lobbyists, a change mandated by Obama.
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