Today (8/25) former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, in a conference call to members of the media, gave a preview of his keynote speech tomorrow night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Warner said, “There may be parts of the speech that won’t get a lot of applause,” as he indicated that his talk will focus on the bipartisanship needed to get things done. “I have to say what I believe,” Warner said, adding “I’m not going to say one thing in Richmond or Danville and another at the Democratic National Convention.”

Warner said that he and most of the speakers have consulted with highly regarded speech coach Michael Sheehan, but Warner said he has been “pleasantly surprised” that those in charge of the convention of not tried to influence his speech.

Warner said that he has a record in Virginia regarding how government should be addressing problems and added that neither party has a monopoly on truth or patriotism

The message that Warner wants to get across is that everyone in this country needs a fair shot—the kind of opportunity afforded to himself as well as to Sen. Barack Obama. Warner said, “We’re all in this together,” and that “we can’t leave people behind.”

Warner said he wants the people of the United States to listen to Obama’s message and decide for themselves who can produce the most tangible results in regard to the myriad problems facing this country today from the economy to education to the situation in Iraq. Warner said it is important to give Obama a chance to make his case but said that ultimately candidates have to close the deal themselves.

Virginia had not voted Democratic in a Presidential election since 1964, and Obama and Sen. John McCain are currently in a heated battle for the state in the Nov. general election. Democrats hope that Warner’s prominence at the convention can help Virginia vote blue for the first time in 44 years.

Warner’s speech tomorrow should come at around 9:30 p.m.

Tim W. Jackson is Editor of the New River Voice and an interested observer of politics.