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National Democratic leaders today will ask Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) to deliver the party’s response to the president’s State of the Union address, believing that the new governor can best deliver their 2006 message of inclusiveness, American values and high ethical standards.

Sources said that Senate and House Minority Leaders Harry Reid (Nev.) and Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who chairs the Democratic Governors’ Association, plan to call Kaine today to offer him the assignment. Kaine was sworn in as Virginia’s governor last weekend, succeeding fellow Democrat Mark Warner, under whom he served as lieutenant governor.

“Gov. Kaine has proven that his message can win in a predominantly Republican state that George Bush carried twice,” said one Senate Democratic aide. “Having him speak about the Democratic agenda and our vision for 2006 after the president’s State of the Union address is obvious.”

A Democratic House aide called choosing Kaine “a no-brainer,” adding that the new governor also provides a fresh face for a party running on a message of change and reform.

Kaine is viewed as one of the Democrats’ strongest examples of how the party can appeal to an electorate even in a conservative state. Kaine ran on an independent-minded, value-themed message during his hard-fought campaign against Republican Jerry Kilgore.

Another Democratic source said that Kaine “just got elected on a winning message. He talks about values and serving all the people. Certainly, as Democrats, that’s one of our themes. We represent all Americans from all walks of life, not the wealthy special interests that the Republicans represent.”

Neither Reid nor Pelosi’s office would confirm Wednesday that Kaine is their choice. But Democratic sources said Kaine has won the leaders’ endorsement, and they expect him to accept the invitation to respond to President Bush when he lays out his agenda before a joint session of Congress on Jan. 31. Kaine, who would deliver the response from Richmond, is expected to talk about Democratic Party values, its broad appeal, its ability to keep the country safe and secure and its desire to clean up government and end corruption.

Delacey Skinner, Kaine’s spokeswoman, this week said she couldn’t comment about the prospect of her boss delivering the address because he has yet to be asked to take on the task. But Skinner added that the governor “would certainly consider it an honor to be asked and address the nation.”

“Obviously, there’s been a lot of speculation in the press about it, and [staff has] certainly talked a little bit about the possibility, but our focus has been on the state of the commonwealth,” she said.

Rumors have been circulating for weeks that Kaine would be the Democrats’ choice.

Rep. Jim Moran, a fellow Virginia Democrat, said in December that Kaine is exactly the type of Democrat the party should showcase heading into an election year.

“He ran on his values and took on issues like the death penalty and abortion head on,” he said. “And, he prevailed in a conservative state.”