VA-Gov: Kaine wins major endorsement

Good news for Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia. After flirting with endorsing Republican Jerry Kilgore or Independent Russ Potts, Richmond Mayor Doug Wilder will endorse Kaine.

RICHMOND, Va. -- With less than a week to go in Virginia's very close race for governor, former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder will endorse fellow Democrat Tim Kaine, an adviser said.

Wilder, now the mayor of Richmond, will give Kaine his formal blessing at a Wednesday morning news conference, said Paul Goldman, a senior adviser to Wilder.

A Kilgore endorsement would have cut Kaine off at the knees - Wilder had endorsed Republican Jim Gilmore in 1997, and getting stiffed by the black mayor of Richmond would have weakened Kaine in this 20% black state.

This doesn't close the deal, but it's a win for Kaine.