Richmond, Virginia Mayor Douglas Wilder has announced that he will not run for re-election as Mayor. For those of you who did not pay much attention in history class, Wilder was the first African-American Governor ever elected in the USA since reconstruction. Wilder was Governor of the "Old Dominion" from 1990-94 after winning a razor-close election. He had been ahead, comfortably, in most polls, but won by less than a point on Election Day. Wilder's career is amazing and he personified much of the change in the country. Always quirky, never boring, Wilder is a giant of Virginia politics. He ran for President, briefly, in 1992.
Anyway, I've heard through the grapevine that Wilder really, really likes Barack Obama. This should not be too surprising. Wilder views Obama as his political son, and who would not like a son with the qualities of Barack Obama.
Here is the prediction: Mayor Wilder will work to turn out the biggest vote, ever, out of Richmond, the heart of the states' black community. Wilder will work like crazy for Obama. AA's in Richmond are a huge factor while the DC suburbs have a relitively small AA community. Mayor & Governor Wilder wants his last act in politics to be to carry Virginia for Barack Obama, don't bet against him. What a capstone to his amazing career it will be. Yes, we can, even in Virginia and thank you, Gov. Wilder for blazing the trail.