Mark Warner announces Senate bid

Today, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner announced his bid for the US Senate seat currently held by Republican John Warner (no relation). [Washington Post] Last year, Warner was entertaining a run for the Democratic Presidential nomination, but he called it off in October, citing the strain on his family.

In June, I ran into Warner outside RFK stadium, before a Nationals-Padres game. Well, maybe I should say that I ran after him. I was waiting for friends, and all of a sudden, one of the scalpers interrupted his "Have tick-ets? Need tick-ets?" mantra to shout out "Former Governor War-ner!" I looked over towards the street, and sure enough, Warner waved and said hello to the scalper, and then hurried across the parking lot towards the stadium (the game had just started).

I figured I should say something, because, after all, I had spent the last two years convinced that he was the strongest Democratic candidate for President. So I grabbed my backpack and scrambled to catch up with him.

"Governor Warner . . ."
"Hey."
"I just wanted to say that I really wish you were running for President."
Warner smiled, and said "well, a lot of times, I wish I was, too."
"I . . . I run a political blog called outraged moderates."
"Hey, that sounds like me!"
I laughed. "You were my guy!"

By that point, we were nearing the entrance to the stadium, so I let him go. The Nationals ended up winning the game, which was especially impressive because Cy Young favorite Jake Peavy was pitching for the Padres.

"Former Va. Gov. Warner Set to Seek Senate Seat" [Washington Post]