Karl Rove takes shots at Kaine, Richmond

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va.—You know you’re being taken seriously when Karl Rove takes a shot at you.

The Republican architect of President Bush’s campaigns yesterday used the tail end of his appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” to take aim at the vice-presidential qualifications of the rising Democratic star who preceded him on the show—Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

“Will all due respect again to Governor Kaine, he’s been a governor for three years,“ Rove told Bob Schieffer. “He’s been able but undistinguished. I don’t think people could really name a big, important thing that he’s done.“

Rove even dragged Richmond into his sights. “[Kaine] was mayor of the 105th largest

city in America,“ Rove said. “And again, with all due respect to Richmond, Virginia, it’s smaller than Chula Vista, California; Aurora, Colorado; Mesa, or Gilbert, Arizona; North Las Vegas, or Henderson, Nevada. It’s not a big town.“

Kaine—on presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s short list for consideration as a running mate—appeared on the high-profile Sunday morning show via remote link from West Virginia, where he is attending the Southern Governors’ Association annual meeting at The Greenbrier resort.

“I’m not running for anything, so I’m not going to make a case,“ Kaine said yesterday afternoon after being told of Rove’s comments.

“My sense is it shows somebody who doesn’t know anything about Virginia.“

Kaine noted that during his term Virginia has been ranked the best state for business and the top-performing state government.

“People care about that,“ Kaine added. “They’re tired of a federal government that can’t respond to a hurricane like Katrina, can’t figure out what the rationale to go to war is, can’t manage a war. People care about management, so [Rove] either doesn’t know about Virginia, or he doesn’t care about management.“

Kaine appeared on “Face the Nation” against the backdrop of conflict between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia. Schieffer’s first question to Kaine underscored an evolving strategy by Sen. John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee for president, against Obama and whomever he might choose as a running mate:

“Won’t that bolster John McCain’s argument that the presidency needs someone with experience dealing with issues like these?“ Schieffer asked.

Kaine replied: “I think the two concerns that Americans have are the state of our economy and our security—at home and abroad.

“And this issue in Georgia obviously raises great questions. But I think as we look at security, what Americans want is judgment. Experience is only positive insofar as it creates good judgment.“

Kaine also counterattacked over McCain campaign ads likening Obama to celebrities Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, rather than a viable president.

“It was funny, but wearing a clown suit and juggling would be funny, too,“ Kaine said. “But it doesn’t connect with the concerns Americans have about gas prices, about the war, about the economy. . . . I hope the McCain camp does more of those ads.“

He said McCain’s “same old negative Karl Rove-style ads” running during the Olympics showed a campaign that was out of touch.

Later on the show, Rove said Obama was running on empty rhetoric and had showed “appalling judgment” on his recent trip to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Europe. Obama’s choice for vice president, Rove said, would be based more on politics, not the ability to govern.

“He’s going to pick somebody that he thinks will on the margin help him in a state like Indiana or Missouri or Virginia,“ Rove said.

“If you were to pick Governor Kaine,“ he said “it would be an intensely political choice.“

Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or .