Amid some calls for him to step down, former Gov. Tim Kaine defended his tenure as chair of the Democratic National Committee, while arguing that his party is not "panicked" over a series of setbacks.

"We're governing and we're engaged in politics at a very challenging and tough time," Kaine told reporters on a conference call this afternoon. "We knew that going in."

He said the DNC has raised near-historic totals for a non-presidential year, and built a significant field organization to help 2010 candidates. Early in 2009 cycle the party was successful in special elections, but he conceded the environment has turned.

"In the two governors races, and Massachusetts things didn't go our way," he said. "We know it's going to be a challenging and tough cycle. Historically it always is. But we're not panicked people. When a couple races don't go our way, we don't panic. If we would, we never would have won the White House in '08."

Kaine did not mention a string of retirements, with Sen. Evan Bayh's (D) decision yesterday considered a severe blow. Instead, he sought to launch a new offensive on Republicans on the eve of the anniversary of President Obama signing the Recovery Act. The DNC is targeting more than 90 GOP governors, congressmen and senators, including members of the leadership, in its "Hypocrisy Hall of Fame," people they say vehemently opposed the stimulus bill but welcomed the dollars they provided in their states and districts.

"Many of them are not just asking for funds, they're claiming credit, handing out over-sized checks and acting as if they had something to do with it," Kaine said.

Dovetailing the White House message on what bipartisanship really means, Kainesaid the anniversary of the stimulus also marks the anniversary of "Republicans' effort to begin a new era of politicization."

In response to Kaine's assertion that Democrats are not panicked, one Republican sent along this YouTube clip.