Today seems to be the day of Obama in the Center. The Obama campaign put Virgina's Democratic governor, Tim Kaine, on the phone with reporters this afternoon to learn about the candidate's appeal to moderate and Republican voters. "Virginia is a tough, tough state," Kaine said, but Obama appeals to the same "slice of the electorate" that crossed over the aisle in Virginia to vote for him and before him, Mark Warner.I asked Kaine if some Democratic primary voters would be turned off by a campaign that is putting so much emphasis on appealing to Independents and Republicans. After all, Hillary Clinton is attacking Obama daily for his supposed centrist compromises on health care, Social Security, and choice. Here's how Kaine responded:I think it's odd to attack somebody for a message that is essentially about unifying our nation, and that's what Barack's message is about. He's a person of strong views, but he doesn't demonize the opposition. We want everybody to sit down and share views and find common ground. I'm 50 -- the nation has not been this polarized in my memory. The last 7 and 8 years have been very, very polarizing in a tough and bitter way, and I think Americans want to move past that. They see that as a Washington phenomenon. I think it's gutsy of Barack in a primary campaign to focus on this issue of outreach to Independents and moderate Republicans. But I also think it's what the country needs, and I think he's banking on the fact that most Americans understand that as well.For Obama, this race is more about taking America back from divisive partisanship than about taking American back from divisive, hard-right conservative Republicanism in particular, which is, truth be told, the major cause of our problems. His frame might be a savvy way to win a general election, but as a closer in dead heat primary states, I'm skeptical.--Dana Goldstein
