Governor plans July 4 holiday politicking in NoVa.

Richmond (Map, News) - Gov. Tim Kaine will spend today campaigning throughout Northern Virginia, yet another sign the region’s importance to Democrats’ electoral fortunes continues to grow.

“We have been getting a lot of requests from candidates to come to Northern Virginia,” said Charlie Kelly, the political director of Kaine’s political action committee. “We feel this is the right thing to do.”

Northern Virginia provided critical votes as Jim Webb dethroned Republican incumbent George Allen in last year’s U.S. Senate race, and it has helped elect two straight Democratic governors.

Kaine’s visits are aimed at bolstering Democratic candidates running in the fall General Assembly elections, especially challengers. For example, the governor will march in Fairfax City’s parade and shake hands at the Vienna celebration. Both festivities fall in the 34th Senate district, where Democrat Chap Peterson is looking to oust Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, R-Vienna. This year, Democrats are particularly focused on winning the state Senate, where Republicans hold a 23-17 advantage.

“They think Northern Virginia is the best place for them to pick up seats as they try to retake the House and Senate, but it is early,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “In October, we’ll have a better idea.”

Besides firing up Democrats for this fall’s elections, Kaine’s visit could pay off in 2008 as well if Sen. John Warner, R-Va., decides to retire.

Northern Virginia could become a battleground in that campaign, Sabato said, if former Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat and Alexandria resident, runs against U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, whose district includes much of Fairfax County. Looking beyond the next two elections, state Republicans are thinking about how potential 2009 gubernatorial candidates will fare in the region.

“We need a candidate for governor who does not look like a deer in headlights in Northern Virginia,” said Sen. Jay O’Brien, R-Clifton. “I like [GOP 2005 gubernatorial nominee] Jerry Kilgore, and I think he was a good candidate, but you could see it in his eyes. He was intimidated when he was in Northern Virginia.”

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com

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