Kaine says Democrats can bounce back from losses

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, the Democratic National Committee chairman, said today that disappointing losses by Democrats “will occasion some reassessment and rebuilding,” but that the party will bounce back quicker because of gains it had made until yesterday.

Kaine also said he did not think his job as DNC chairman was in danger as a result of the poor showing, and that he had already spoken to the White House about making plans for the 2010 campaigns.

The governor said that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds went up against a “historic headwind” in Virginia, which has elected governors from the opposite party of the White House since 1977.

Repeating themes made earlier on the television talk show circuit, he said that Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, who defeated Deeds for attorney general four years ago by just 360 votes, had the advantages of having held statewide office, including name recognition.

Kaine, however, said he did not have an immediate explanation as to why so many independent voters favored McDonnell, who led a sweep of the three statewide offices.

“We have to scrutinize that carefully,” Kaine said. “I don’t really have an answer for that right now. .¤.¤. voters on the other side were a little bit more energized than voters on our side.“

Still, Kaine said, because of the gains Democrats made in Virginia over the past 10 years, they have a “higher platform” from which to bounce back.

Kaine said McDonnell operated a “disciplined, focused” campaign. He said he would work with the Republican to make the transition between administrations “as seamless as we can.“

Earlier, Kaine squared off on NBC’s “Today” show with House Republican Whip Eric I. Cantor of Henrico County.

“Everyone knew that Creigh was the underdog in this race,“ Kaine said on “Today.” “In the rematch he just couldn’t improve upon where he was four years ago.“

Cantor, meantime, said Virginians voted Republican because of their concern about the economy and the “one-way street” policies of the Obama administration and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which he called the “politics of attack.“

“It was really about the policies the president was promoting,“ Cantor said. “People have clearly made a choice.“

Kaine said one of the most important races yesterday was the special House election in a New York district where a Republican withdrew after opposition from conservatives, resulting in a Democratic upset in an area largely represented by the GOP since the Civil War.

“Eric and his colleagues put nearly $1 million in that race and got chased out by the right wing,“ Kaine said. He added that similar schisms between moderate and conservative Republicans are playing out in other states.

Cantor responded that the “Virginia model shows that when we’re united as a party independents are attracted to our message.“

but that the party will bounce back quicker because of gains it had made until yesterday.

Kaine also said he did not think his job as DNC chairman was in danger as a result of the poor showing, and that he had already spoken to the White House about making plans for the 2010 campaigns.

The governor said that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds went up against a “historic headwind” in Virginia, which has elected governors from the opposite party of the White House since 1977.

Repeating themes made earlier on the television talk show circuit, he said that Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, who defeated Deeds for attorney general four years ago by just 360 votes, had the advantages of having held statewide office, including name recognition.

Kaine, however, said he did not have an immediate explanation as to why so many independent voters favored McDonnell, who led a sweep of the three statewide offices.

“We have to scrutinize that carefully,” Kaine said. “I don’t really have an answer for that right now. .¤.¤. voters on the other side were a little bit more energized than voters on our side.“

Still, Kaine said, because of the gains Democrats made in Virginia over the past 10 years, they have a “higher platform” from which to bounce back.

Kaine said McDonnell operated a “disciplined, focused” campaign. He said he would work with the Republican to make the transition between administrations “as seamless as we can.“

Earlier, Kaine squared off on NBC’s “Today” show with House Republican Whip Eric I. Cantor of Henrico County.

“Everyone knew that Creigh was the underdog in this race,“ Kaine said on “Today.” “In the rematch he just couldn’t improve upon where he was four years ago.“

Cantor, meantime, said Virginians voted Republican because of their concern about the economy and the “one-way street” policies of the Obama administration and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which he called the “politics of attack.“

“It was really about the policies the president was promoting,“ Cantor said. “People have clearly made a choice.“

Kaine said one of the most important races yesterday was the special House election in a New York district where a Republican withdrew after opposition from conservatives, resulting in a Democratic upset in an area largely represented by the GOP since the Civil War.

“Eric and his colleagues put nearly $1 million in that race and got chased out by the right wing,“ Kaine said. He added that similar schisms between moderate and conservative Republicans are playing out in other states.

Cantor responded that the “Virginia model shows that when we’re united as a party independents are attracted to our message.“

(Staff writer Tom Kapsidelis contributed to this report.)