Sunday Magazine: Lukewarm on Warner

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 16:35:30 -0400

This Sunday's Times Magazine isn't online yet, but The Politicker got an early look at the grinning-Mark-Warner cover and the cover story, by Matt Bai. He portrays Warner as the likeliest anti-Hillary, and as a talented guy who's not quite ready for prime time, and apparently unwilling to take the only path Bai sees as a potential winner: running against the establishment.

Bai notes Hillary's strength, and Warner's consequent weakness, with African-American voters, and quotes Joe Trippi on Warner's hopes: "It's not possible.... The way for Mark Warner? Leave the freakin' party." (Of course, Trippi would say that.) Bai also notes that Warner is running as Bill Clinton '92; but Clinton was lucky enough to have that year's New York superstar, Mario Cuomo, get out of the way.

Also: Is March 2006 the month you really want to be the flavor of?

In the piece, Warner doesn't engage Hillary directly, though Bai gives it a shot:

Is Clinton, I asked Warner, and "electable" Democrat? "I think she's a very strong senator," he said slowly, pausing several times. "And I think what she showed in New York was an ability to really make her case among people who might not intiallly be supportive."

We stared at each other. "O.K.," I said. "But is she electable?"

"If she decides to run, she'll be the frontrunner," Warner replied carefully.

Observer » Sunday Magazine: Lukewarm on Warner

Sunday Magazine: Lukewarm on Warner