US Democratic Party elects new chairman

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-22 11:53

WASHINGTON-- Tim Kaine, Virginia governor and a longtime friend of new US President Barack Obama, was elected chairman of the Democratic Party on Wednesday.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (L) delivers remarks after being announced as the new Democratic National Committee chairman by US President-elect Barack Obama in Washington, January 8, 2009. [Agencies]

The result was expected as Obama had nominated Kaine, 50, for the four-year post earlier this month.

"President Obama promised to usher in a new kind of American politics and I'm eager to help him make good on that promise," Kaine said in his first address as chairman.

He told members he would like to define the Democratic Party as a problem-solving, positive, unifying body that embraces the values of hard work and equality, while rejecting ideological disputes, partisan gridlock and hard-core negative rhetoric.

Along with Kaine, several other allies of Obama were elected vice chairmen of the party by the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Kaine will serve as DNC chairman on a part-time basis until he finishes his term as Virginia governor later this year.

Kaine was one of Obama's earliest supporters in his presidential campaign. His state, which usually favors Republicans, swung to Obama on November 4.