Warner: It Just Wasn't Time

Ex-VA Gov. Mark Warner announced this a.m. that he would not run for president in 2008, telling supporters that his political ambitions conflicted with his personal inclinations and his family obligations. At a hastily arranged news conf. with reporters in Richmond, VA to explain his decision, Warner said that while "politically, this appears to be the right time for me to take the plunge, at this point, I want to have a real life."

Warner's remarks were posted to his PAC website. Warner: "I can say with complete conviction that -- 15 months out from the first nomination contests -- I feel we would have had as good a shot to be successful as any potential candidate in the field. As for my family, Lisa and our three girls have always had a healthy amount of skepticism, but would have been willing to buckle down and support the effort. I love them all and appreciate their faith in me."

Warner and his family spent the weekend in CT celebrating his father's 81st birthday. "I know these moments are never going to come again," he said. While the chance to run for president "may never come again, I shouldn't move forward unless I'm willing to put everything else in my life on the back burner." More Warner: "It's not a decision I have easily reached. I made it after a lot of discussion with my family and a few close friends, and ultimately a lot of reflection, prayer, and soul-searching."

Warner said he hopes to continue "to serve, whether in elective office or in some other way." In the short-term, Warner said he'll "do everything I can to make sure Democrats win in 2006." He will keep today's planned engagements in Iowa.

Late yesterday, Warner informed the staff at his large political action committee, Forward Together. Many, particularly the more junior members, were stunned. The PAC had raised $9 million to help Democratic candidates and fund Warner's national political travels. His aggressive, secret fundraising strategy to raise $10K from 404 donors was well underway. His PAC had scouted office space in IA, NH and SC. [MARC AMBINDER]

“This is the time for making personal decisions, not six months for now,” said Jerome Armstrong, Warner’s chief internet consultant. “All the magnifying glasses were going to turn to him the day after the [midterm] election. At this point in the cycle, you’re all making sure it aligns for yourself. He hadn’t reached that point.”

Warner spent most of Aug. on vacation with his family. A friend with direct knowledge of Warner's account said that his wife Lisa and teenage daughters were wary about a run but gave him their blessing. “Lisa and the girls were supportive. It wasn't their first choice, but they were supportive and were ready to go ahead and do this,” an aide said. When he returned, from vacation he told several associates and staff members that he was close to making up his mind and would decide around Columbus day. As the fall progressed, his family's concerns began to weigh on him.

At the same time, though, major donors to his political action committee were told that Warner planned to set up his presidential exploratory account in the winter, possibly as early as the middle of December.

Warner's travel schedule was intense -- nearly 86 public events in the past nine months and more than 200 private meetings -- and it would only become more grueling. "He loved all that and he loved the grind. He's a political animal," said Monica Dixon, Warner's chief policy adviser and the first member of his PAC staff.

Warner knew his brief on domestic issues better than anyone, but in a presidential race where China, North Korea, Iran and India, throw weights and non-proliferation, poverty and the international balance of power would all be central topics of debate, Warner, a one-term VA governor, spent much of his time preparing. He took meetings with dozens of Clinton and Bush admin. officials and would spend hours in what Warner called "dialoguing."

Warner jumped into the pack of presidential aspirants in early ‘06 and immediately attracted attention for credentials as a Southern governor, quirky personal style, pragmatic mien, and personal wealth. Mame Reiley, his chief political adviser, began to lay the ground work for visits to Iowa and New Hampshire. His PAC, run by close friend Nicholas Perrins, hired Armstrong, who immediately began to tout Warner to opinion influencers in the Dem. blogosphere. Andi Pringle, a former campaign mgr for Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, coordinated Warner's outreach to young minority professionals. The PAC's officers in Alexandria were adorned with newspapers headlines testifying to Warner's accomplishments in VA as well as maps of early primary and caucus states.

Warner associates said he has not ruled out running for Senate in 2008, particularly if Sen. John Warner (R-VA) retires. He is also open to running for governor again