Potentially Presidential Pols Pass in a Va. Night

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 5, 2006

RICHMOND -- Two ex-governors with presidential dreams. A constellation of groupies for each. One hotel ballroom.

The orbits of former governor Mark R. Warner (D) and U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) collided Saturday at Richmond's swank Jefferson Hotel, offering a preview of what the 2008 election might bring if Virginia's two most ambitious politicians seek the White House.

The Jefferson's Grand Ballroom began the day as the site of a "Policy and Politics Retreat" for 200 of Warner's closest, and richest, associates. The former governor's name hung on banners, and his image -- beamed in from New Hampshire, where he was giving a speech -- appeared on three huge plasma television screens.

By evening, though, the chamber's Democratic karma had given way to a decidedly Republican sensibility.

Down came the plasma screens. Bright blue Allen signs replaced the fluttering Warner banners. Republican activists dressed in tuxedos and gowns streamed in for their state party's annual fundraiser as Warner supporters left, heading to a barbecue picnic at the local NASCAR racetrack.

"Somebody in booking has a weird sense of humor," an Allen staffer was overheard to say.

In six months, the prospect of a chance meeting of Warner and Allen might not seem so novel. Both are openly flirting with a presidential bid, although neither admits to having made a final decision. An announcement from either could come after the November elections.

Should they jump in, both face significant obstacles to winning their parties' nominations.

Allen must persuade GOP voters to choose his brand of aw-shucks, George W. Bush-style conservatism over such potential adversaries as U.S. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. And he needs to win reelection in November in the face of plummeting Republican poll numbers and problems in Iraq.

"That has more of a potential to be a real challenge than anyone thought," said Scott Reed, who managed former Senate majority leader Bob Dole's presidential campaign in 1996.

Warner -- a one-term governor with no foreign policy know-how -- must introduce himself to the nation and ease concerns about his lack of experience.

"Right now he's not the governor anymore," said Steve Elmendorf, a senior aide in the presidential campaigns of Democrats Richard A. Gephardt and U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.). "You can't demonstrate experience, so you have to demonstrate knowledge."

For Warner, Saturday was the beginning of a frenetic 10-day road trip designed to showcase him as a loyal Democrat, a serious policy wonk and a hip, Internet-savvy politician. In addition to New Hampshire's Democratic Convention, he is scheduled to make speeches before the Japan Society in New York and a Democratic blogger conference in Las Vegas.

At the Jefferson, he assembled supporters from across the country to trade business cards, coordinate fundraising and listen to experts dissect the policy challenges the next president will face.

They listened to two of former president Bill Clinton's terrorism advisers, Richard A. Clarke and Daniel Benjamin, and they heard from Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and U.S. Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (Tenn.).

The three-day weekend retreat was also designed as a fancy thank-you for the leaders of that army, Warner's bundlers, the people who bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars by grouping together many individual contributions.

In addition to the barbecue dinner, the guests were offered the chance to drive race cars around the track at Richmond International Raceway. As they boarded charter buses to take them to the speedway, the guests walked by a white Ford pickup filled with Allen signs for the GOP's "Commonwealth Gala."

"When they're the ones having a black-tie dinner and we're the ones at NASCAR, that says it all," crowed Chet Atkins, a former U.S. representative from Massachusetts. "If we can put ourselves at the track and put them in tuxedos for the election, it's game over."

That was not the sentiment among the nearly 250 Republicans, who soon filled the newly redecorated Grand Ballroom and raised about $100,000 for their state party.

Asked how she felt to be standing in a room that just hours before had been filled with Warner devotees, party Chairman Kate Obenshain Griffin deadpanned: "It feels much better now."

Allen whipped up the crowd, starting his speech as he usually does when he's in front of a friendly group of Republicans: "Good evening, patriots!" And he received thunderous applause with his promise to oppose illegal immigration.

Allen was followed by Ed Gillespie, the former Republican National Committee chairman and head of Allen's political action committee. Taking a swipe at state senators who have voted to raise taxes, he said: "Good things happen when Republicans act like Republicans."

Allen and Warner managed to miss each other the entire night. Back from New Hampshire, Warner boarded an elevator at the hotel just before Allen arrived for the gala.

Asked whether he thought it was interesting that both events were taking place on the same day at the same hotel, Allen grinned.

"I reckon," was all Virginia's junior senator would say.

Warner, too, did not want to talk about his potential rival, but he noted the curiosity that both men -- who are traveling throughout the country -- would end up back in Richmond at the same hotel.

"People talk about [six] degrees of separation," Warner said, shaking his head. "I think there are only two degrees, or even one."

In the lobby, Warner stopped briefly at the Young Republicans reception, where he greeted several youthful members of the opposition party. Neal Miller, a co-chairman in the Arlington GOP, said he was impressed by Warner's grace.

"We're a big-tent party," Miller joked. "If former governor Warner wants to join the Republican Party at this late stage, we're more than willing to take him."

As he left the reception, heading toward the racetrack, Warner told the young Republicans: "Good luck -- but not too much!"

And then, under his breath, he added: "Never a dull moment."