The Hill News

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine said Tuesday he hasn't talked with anyone about leaving his post for a job in the White House.

Kaine didn't dismiss outright reports over the weekend suggesting that he might move to a cabinet position in order to allow White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs would take over operations at the DNC.

But Kaine did say that he was unaware of any discussions about a move that would  see him leave the DNC, and said he'd spoken with Gibbs about the speculation.

"I serve at the election of the members, but also, it's no surprise I serve because the president asked me," Kaine said on the liberal Bill Press radio show. "If he ever wants somebody else to do the job, I'm sure he'll tell me. But I'm all systems go."

T! he reported shuffle would see Gibbs take over as DNC chairman going into President Obama's re-election effort in 2012, while Kaine might get a White House gig or a cabinet position.

Gibbs wouldn't rule out such an appointment to the DNC, only to say that he enjoys his current job, and hadn't had any conversations about leaving that position.

Kaine echoed that sentiment on Tuesday.

"I have not had a discussion with anybody at the White House about doing anything different," he said. "I'm certainly not aware of any, and I spend an awful lot of time with Democratic voters."

The former Virginia governor also said he'd spoken with Gibbs over the weekend, in what was apparently a mutually reassuring conversation.
"Gibbs called me over the weekend and said, 'Hey look, I d! on't kno w where this thing came from. Keep doing a good job, and I'll keep doing a good job,'" Kaine said.

Adding to Kaine's professional stature is the wide level of support he enjoys inside the Obama White House and among top Democrats on Capitol Hill, who have expressed support for his leadership even in an election cycle in which Democrats are expected to fare poorly.