Another Losing Endorsement Bet for Kaine?

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DURING THE 2004 RACE for the White House, then-Virginia Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine decided to endorse Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman for the Democratic presidential nomination. But as we all know, Lieberman had trouble raising money for his campaign, which ground to a halt in snowy New Hampshire. In the 2008 race for the White House, Kaine, now Virginia governor, is supporting Sen. Barack Obama and was among the first to get behind the Illinois Democrat, who, like Kaine, is a Harvard-educated civil rights lawyer. Obama campaigned for Kaine's successful 2005 gubernatorial run.

The Post's Tim Craig noted yesterday that Kaine is still standing behind Obama, despite new poll numbers that suggest that New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is widening her lead in the race for the Democratic nomination. But Kaine tells Craig that despite Clinton's popularity in national polls, the race in crucial Iowa is still tight and Obama is well positioned in early primary states. So we'll see if Kaine's endorsement will fall flat again or if this time, he'll be on the winning side.

If you're keeping score, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty has thrown his support behind Obama as well, while Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is standing behind Clinton. O'Malley's No. 2, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown — who was a classmate of Obama's at Harvard Law — recently endorsed Clinton as well.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Reps. Elijah Cummings and Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland are standing behind Clinton. On the Republican side, Sen. John Warner of Virginia has endorsed Sen. John McCain.

» "Kaine Still Has High Hopes for Obama" [Va. Politics/WaPo]

EARLIER:
» "Kaine to Back Obama's Bid for Democratic Nomination" [WaPo]
» "D.C. Mayor Endorses Obama's Campaign" [WaPo]
» "Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley Endorses Clinton" [HillaryClinton.com]
» "Md. Lt. Gov. Picks Clinton Over Classmate Obama" [Free Ride/Express]

Photo by Dayna Smith/The Washington Post