Warner: ‘I Guarantee You’ll See Me’

ABC’s Teddy Davis and Karuna Seshasai report: When asked this morning in Richmond, VA whether his wife specifically asked him not to run for president in 2008, former Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA) joked that he had already moved her from "negative to neutral, which was great," adding that regardless of his final decision, his family "would have been supportive.

Warner associates tell ABC News, however, that his family was unenthusiastic about the sacrifices involved in a White House run.

The Virginia Democrat first hinted at the skepticism his daughters might feel during a 2005 C-SPAN interview.

In his interview with Brian Lamb for C-SPAN’s "Q&A," Warner bluntly stated that his daughters, who were 15, 14, and 11 at the time, viewed him as a "jerk" when he temporarily moved them from northern Virginia to Richmond when he became governor.

"It’s a trying time with girls at that age," he added.

At today’s Richmond press conference, Warner made it clear that a future run for office is a distinct possibility.

"When and where, I don’t know right now," said Warner, "but I guarantee you’ll see me."

Warner’s Virginia options include running in 2008 for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Warner (R-VA) and pursuing the Virginia governorship in 2009 when Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) is constitutionally barred from seeking a consecutive term.

He may also have a future on the national stage.

By bowing out of the presidential race after earning quite a bit of national buzz as potentially the "most electable" Democrat in the field, Warner could wind up as the 2008 running mate for someone looking for executive experience and a track record of winning in a Red State.

In a sign that he does not plan to slow down, Warner said today that he intends to keep previously planned trips to Iowa and California on his schedule.

The former Virginia governor’s announcement was so startling to the political establishment because he had been so aggressive in the past year in traveling to early primary states, raising money, and building a staff.

‘Come on in, the water’s fine’

Since stepping down as Virginia’s governor last year, Warner has been, in his words, "schlepping" around the country, making presentations "5-6 times" a day.

On May 31 of this year, after speaking to a group of venture capitalists at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel about education, R&D, and human capital, the cell phone magnate spoke with ABC News about what it is like to be competing in the nascent stages of a presidential run with Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), the man for whom Warner interned while still an undergraduate at The George Washington University.

"Just talked to him yesterday," Warner told ABC News in May. "I said, ‘Come on in. The water’s fine.’ He will add a lot to the race."

While declaring his withdrawal from the race today, Warner argued that fixing what’s wrong with the country would take more than winning a bare majority.

He also got in one parting shot at President Bush.

"I think I bring a real desire to learn, I think I bring a tremendous curiosity, I think I bring a willingness to acknowledge when I’m wrong," said Warner. "Those three traits alone make me different from the President."