Even though Super Tuesday is behind us, there's still plenty happening in the Even though Super Tuesday is behind us, there's still plenty happening in the Prospect's own backyard. Virginia is part of what's been dubbed the "Potomac Primary," and this red-trending-blue state could offer insight into which Democratic candidate is best positioned to capitalize on this electoral realignment. Here are the endorsements of the major statewide pols going into February 12:
SENATE
Junior Senator James Webb, perhaps to due to heavy VP courting, has not endorsed any presidential candidates, nor does he appear likely to before next week's voting. Retiring senior Senator John Warner has endorsed John McCain, unsurprisingly. Warner's most likely successor, Democrat Mark Warner (no relation), has not officially endorsed, although his moribund presidential PAC has endorsed Barack Obama and set up a website to build support for him.
HOUSE
Two of Virginia's three Democratic U.S.representatives, Bobby Scott and Rick Boucher, have endorsed Obama. Republican Rep. Tom Davis has endorsed John McCain while the rest remain uncommitted (Virginia has a total of 11 U.S. representatives).
STATE OFFICIALS
Governor Tim Kaine has endorsed Barack Obama and even stumped for him in Iowa. Richmond Mayor (and former governor) Douglas Wilder has also endorsed Obama, and state Rep. Ward Armstrong endorsed him last week. Barack Obama has also received the endorsements of five current Virginia mayors, according to the Washington Post's Virginia politics blog. Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has mostly acquired the endorsements of DNC representatives, including Virginia Assembly Delegates Adam Ebbin and Jennifer McClellan, Terry McAuliffe, and representatives of the Virginia DNC Women's Caucus. As a practical matter, this gives Clinton a superdelegate lead of five to Obama's three, with five at-large superdelegates up for grabs.
--Mori Dinauer
