POLITICS IN BRIEF

Va. governor to lead Democrats

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is set to become the next chairman of the Democratic Party. Two Democratic officials said Sunday that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen the governor to take over the Democratic National Committee. Kaine plans to work at the party part time until 2010, when his term as governor is up and he can take over the DNC full time. Current DNC chairman Howard Dean plans to step down Jan. 21, the day after Obama’s inauguration.

Ex-Senate chief has nonpolitical plans

Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he won’t run for Tennessee governor in 2010. But he emphasized he’s not sitting out the governor’s race with an eye toward a potential run for president. The Nashville Republican said he will focus instead on his global health initiatives, teaching at Vanderbilt University and his private investment work. Frist said he also will launch an initiative to improve K-12 education. Incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen can’t run again because of term limits.

Obama ‘choked up’ at leaving his home

Barack Obama landed at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., outside Washington area Sunday evening, setting up the final march toward his Jan. 20 inauguration. The president-elect is facing a series of challenges, including meetings with congressional leaders today to promote an economic plan. But as he prepared to leave his hometown of Chicago, his comments were personal. “I’ve got to tell you, I choked up a little bit leaving my house today,” Obama told reporters aboard a government 757 plane typically used by vice presidents and first ladies. It was his first trip on a government aircraft since winning election Nov. 4, aides said. Obama said pictures of his 10-year-old daughter and her friends triggered the emotion. “Malia’s friend had dropped off an album of the two of them. I just looked through the pages, the house was empty. It was a little tough,” Obama said. Asked if he was looking forward to arriving in the capital, Obama smiled and said yes, “although living in a hotel for two weeks? We did that for two years” on the campaign trail. The president-elect is staying at the Hay-Adams Hotel across from the White House. His family made the same trip from Chicago on Saturday.

Jeb Bush for president, says dad

Another President Bush? Perhaps, former President George H.W. Bush told “Fox News Sunday” in an interview that was taped Friday in Houston. The nation’s 41st president said Sunday he would like to see a second son, Jeb, be president one day. Jeb Bush is the current president’s younger brother and a former popular governor of Florida. He is mulling a run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.). Asked about Jeb Bush’s consideration of the Senate seat, Bush said, “I’d like to see him run. I’d like to see him be president someday.” But he acknowledged, “Right now is probably a bad time, because we’ve had enough Bushes in there. But … I think he’s as qualified and able as anyone I know on the political scene.”

Schumer: Seat Franken in Senate

New York Sen. Charles Schumer said Democrat Al Franken should be seated in the Senate when it convenes Tuesday. Schumer, the former head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Sunday it’s clear Franken has won the election for Minnesota’s Senate seat. He said Republican Norm Coleman can’t get enough votes to win, even if claims of double-counted ballots are resolved. Franken had a 225-vote lead over Coleman when election officials completed their recount Saturday. The state Canvassing Board is expected to certify the results of the re-count today, but there will be a seven-day waiting period before an election certificate is completed. If any lawsuits are filed during that waiting period, certification is conditional until the issue is settled in court.