HAMPTON -- Former Gov. Mark Warner left no doubt Saturday that he is fully committed to his campaign for the U.S. Senate, telling Virginia Democrats that he would not consider an offer to be the running mate for presidential candidate Barack Obama.

In a speech at the state Democratic convention, Warner noted that he, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and Gov. Tim Kaine have been mentioned as part of a long list of potential vice presidential candidates. But Warner made it clear that he has no interest in the job.

"For my part, I want to be very clear about this," Warner said as he formally accepted the Senate nomination at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. "I have been working really hard since last fall, and I am committed 110 percent to asking the people of Virginia to give me the honor of being elected their next United States Senator. I have not sought and will not accept any other opportunity, because I want to serve in the United States Senate."

Warner's declaration drew thunderous applause from Democratic activists, who are optimistic about their party's prospects for winning a Senate seat that Republican John Warner has held for nearly three decades. John Warner, who is not related to the former governor, is retiring.

Mark Warner later told reporters that he wanted to end any speculation about the vice presidency and "make it clear what I'm focused on."

Warner will face his Republican predecessor, former Gov. Jim Gilmore, in the general election. The two candidates already have clashed over their gubernatorial records and over their competing positions on issues such as taxes and energy policy.

"I believe it may be the clearest choice we've had in Virginia in decades," Warner said.

Warner went on the attack at the convention, accusing Gilmore of leaving him "the worst fiscal mess in more than 30 years."

Warner entered the governor's office in 2002 facing budget shortfalls that prompted him to cut spending and merge some state agencies. He pushed a tax increase through the Republican-run General Assembly in 2004 after arguing that the state needed additional revenue to fund essential services. Gilmore has argued that Warner exaggerated the severity of the budget problems to make a case for a tax increase.

Gilmore spokeswoman Ana Gamonal said the Senate race will have less to do with the candidates' gubernatorial records than with their plans for solving national problems.

"This campaign is about federal issues," Gamonal said. "We have yet to hear what Mark Warner will do to help bring down gas prices, create more jobs and ease the tax burden on Virginia's working families."

Saturday's convention was part pep rally and part fence-mending exercise, as Democrats looked to move beyond a bitterly contested presidential nomination fight and gear up for the fall campaign. Many convention delegates maintained allegiance to Sen. Hillary Clinton, who suspended her presidential campaign last weekend and endorsed Obama.

But Clinton supporters said that Kaine, a national co-chairman of Obama's campaign, has reached out to them in an effort to unite the party. Kaine sent a letter to Clinton delegates letting them know they would be welcomed at the state convention. And he lauded Clinton during his convention speech, calling her "a strong, courageous and compassionate public servant."

"I think Governor Kaine and Senator Obama should be commended for how they've reached out to all of us," said Clinton supporter Susan Swecker, a Highland County native and one of Virginia's superdelegates for the Democratic National Convention.

"The stakes are way too high for us not to come together," Swecker said.

Kaine also has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate, but doesn't appear to be taking the speculation seriously.

"I got on board with him [Obama] not to get anything out of it," Kaine said. "I got on board because I wanted him to be president. And I think my best value to him is being helpful right here in Virginia. And I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it other than that."

Webb also expressed little interest in the vice presidency, though his name, too, has circulated among pundits.

"I know what it's like to work inside an administration," said Webb, who served as secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration. "When you're inside an administration, you absolutely owe your loyalty to the larger positions of the administration."

Webb said he has "a number of issues" he wants to pursue in the Senate, where he has served for just 17 months. Webb has led the push for a new GI bill that would fund college educations for veterans who have served during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

"The basic point is I'm happy with what I'm doing in the Senate," Webb said.

State Democratic Party Chairman Richard Cranwell of Vinton said the speculation about Warner, Kaine and Webb is an indication that Virginia will be competitive this fall, even though no Democratic presidential candidate has carried the state since 1964.

But Cranwell cautioned, "I understand that this is a tough campaign ahead of us."