Warner Visits N.H. Amid Much Speculation

[Thom Little]

By Mark Leibovich and Michael D. Shear
Washington Post
Saturday, November 19, 2005


Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, who is considering a run for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, made his first political visit to the home of the nation's first primary Friday, attending a roundtable discussion on high school dropout prevention in Nashua and speaking to a gathering of Democratic activists in Manchester.

Warner, prohibited by Virginia law from seeking a second term, will leave office in two months amid considerable speculation about his plans. Those plans were at the forefront of the discussion Friday as Warner parried questions from activists, local elected officials and reporters about whether he'll seek the presidency.

"I'm not making any decisions about anything yet," was his standard response, although it was lost on no one that Warner chose New Hampshire as the venue to discuss high school dropout prevention, a pet issue of his.

Warner boosters say he has proved he can get elected and govern in a conservative Southern state. That message, they argue, is what the Democratic Party needs to be able to take back the White House.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802660_pf.html