For Kaine, Selection of Obama VP Bittersweet

"It's been decades since we have seen that," he said.

But Virginians who support Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president said Obama decided against Kaine because the governor lacks experience and would not have been able to deliver the state's 13 electoral votes, potentially critical to winning the White House.

"Even the governor couldn't make Barack Obama palatable to Virginia voters,'' said Del. Christopher B. Saxman (R-Staunton), co-chairman of McCain's presidential campaign in Virginia. The Obama-Kaine ticket "wasn't going to sell votes."

Kaine and his family flew to Denver on Friday night on a jet owned by supporter Sheila C. Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television. He spent Saturday giving media interviews and sightseeing with family members, who attended a Colorado Rockies baseball game.

On Sunday, he will attend a welcome reception for the Virginia delegation sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power, the largest energy provider in the state. Warner will give the keynote address Tuesday, but Kaine's role at the convention remains undetermined, the governor said. He said he was happy to be at the convention despite not being chosen for the ticket.

"It's not anything I ever sought or asked for and certainly nothing I ever expected," he said.

In February 2007, Kaine became the first governor outside of Illinois to endorse Obama, and he has pledged to do whatever it takes to deliver Virginia to Obama in November. The two became friends after they campaigned together during Kaine's 2005 gubernatorial race. Kaine, who like Obama has Kansas roots, has returned the favor, stumping nationwide for the presumptive nominee during the primaries.

"What I'm really focused on now is this race in November," Kaine said. "We've got a great opportunity to grab electoral votes in Virginia."

Virginia Republicans, who have accused Kaine of spending too much time campaigning for Obama, said the vice presidential selection process distracted him from such responsibilities as addressing a budget shortfall that could top $1 billion.

"I'm sure Tim Kaine enjoyed the attention he received as Barack Obama's surrogate, attending rallies, traveling the country, going on the Sunday morning talk shows and being showered with confetti at each stop," said Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (Prince William), state GOP chairman. "But Tim Kaine will not be vice president this year, and he must now set aside his ambitions to focus on getting back to work as governor, particularly now, given the budget mess we find ourselves in."

Staff writer Sandhya Somashekhar contributed to this report.