Former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine Mulling Senate Race in Virginia?

2 years ago

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Democrats are holding their breath as former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine prepares to meet this week with President Obama to discuss a possible bid for the Senate after Democrat Jim Webb announced he would not seek reelection in 2012.

Kaine, who is chairman of the Democratic National Committee, insisted earlier he wasn't interested in running for the Senate -- but that was before Webb said he'd had enough after just one term.

Kaine told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he was flattered by the interest in his potential candidacy, which includes "DraftKaine" websites. He is scheduled to attend a Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Richmond this weekend -- a possible venue for him to announce a decision. Sen. Mark Warner and other Democrats are urging Kaine to reconsider at a time when loss of the seat would be a blow to the party as it attempts to hold its slim majority in the Senate.

But Kaine has betrayed no interest in the Senate in the past and told the Richmond newspaper Tuesday his top priority remains getting Obama reelected in 2012. The president picked Kaine to lead the party while he was still serving as Virginia's governor.

Democrats were disheartened by Webb's decision not to seek a second term and by the emergence of former governor and senator George Allen as a candidate on the Republican side. Webb defeated then-Sen. Allen in 2006.

Folo Tom Diemer on Twitter http://twitter.com/tomdiemer

Filed Under: Senate, Democrats, Republicans, Obama Administration, 2012 President, Governors, Congress, Conservatives, Campaigns, Barack Obama, 2012 Elections

Tagged: dailyguidance, george allen, jim webb, tim kaine

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