For someone who quips in speeches that he’s unemployed, Mark Warner sure has been busy lately.
Operating out of his Alexandria headquarters, the former governor—and presumed presidential candidate—has been jet-setting around the country to raise money and deliver stump speeches. Warner’s flurry of activity has chipped away at his low public profile, and his coffers are now the second-largest among the top 20 presidential hopefuls. But he still remains a distant runner-up to New York senator Hillary Clinton.
According to an analysis by the political journal Hotline, Clinton has raised almost $20 million to the $5.2 million raised by Warner’s Forward Together political action committee. Clinton is also attracting many Democratic heavy-hitters, who are bringing their campaign experience (and decade-long losing streak) to her camp.
Only 3 percent of Democrats nationwide tagged Warner as their presidential preference in a February poll. But mounting media coverage, including a lengthy cover profile in The New York Times Magazine and attacks on Warner by conservative pundits, are sure to bring those numbers up.
And in a sign that he is becoming a real Beltway warrior, Warner has taken a tentative step into the most dangerous minefield for any presidential candidate: the Iraq War. According to an Associated Press report, Warner told a Washington audience on May 9 that while he hopes the war is successful, he would consider the withdrawal of U.S. troops if progress is not made in coming months.—Paul Fain