Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, seated next to Erika C. Helgen ’08, spoke to the Harvard College Democrats at the group’s annual gala in Kirkland Dining Hall yesterday.

A string quartet, the ubiquitous black dress, and white tablecloths set the mood in the Kirkland Dining Hall last night at the second Harvard College Democrats Gala Banquet, which honored presidential hopeful Mark Warner for his unconventional and successful approach to politics during his time as governor of Virginia.

The sold-out event, attended by 180 people and five months in the making, boasted appearances from local politicians and speeches from former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, former Florida Senator Bob Graham, and Warner, a 1980 graduate of Harvard Law School.

The three politicians did their share of Bush-bashing at the partisan gala. Graham criticized Bush for a lack of “competence” and “candor” before sharing his vision for the success of their party.

“I am very happy to be here with these governors tonight. Within these two, we have the next president of the United States of America,” Graham said to cheers from the diners.

Graham pointed to similarities between Warner, a Southern governor from a traditionally Republican state, and recent Democratic presidents.

Warner’s speech, which received a standing ovation, repeated many of the points that he has made in appearances earlier this week during his stay at Harvard as a visiting fellow of the Institute of Politics.

“Change is coming whether we like it or not,” Warner said, urging the Democratic party to elect leadership that would make the “right choices” for the future.

“The democratic party can and should be competitive in every state in the country,” he said,

Last night’s festivities cost an estimated $5,000, according to Dems Events Director Erika C. Helgen ’08.

The event does not mean the Dems have endorsed Warner’s potential candidacy. But Daniel A.F. Demetri ’09 told his fellow diners that since Warner “came here, he deserves a little bit of love.”

—Staff writer Natalie I. Sherman can be reached at nsherman@fas.harvard.edu.