Students at the University of Richmond reported Monday that Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine told a leadership class he plans to run in the upcoming U.S. Senate race for the seat following Sen. Jim Webb's retirement. The rumor of Kaine's intentions spread throughout the university. Richmond student Gray Delaney called Charlottesville radio station WINA to report Kaine's alleged comment, which then spread across national news sites.
Delaney claimed three university students told him about Kaine's comment when he called the station, said Rob Schilling, Schilling Show host and the DJ who received the call.
"Delaney said Tim Kaine was going to announce his bid for U.S. Senate upon return from a planned trip to China," Schilling said in an e-mail.
WINA reported the phone call and Schilling put the story up on schillingshow.com. The social media website Twitter was soon used by people across the country to repeat the news of Kaine's announcement, and national reporters began investigating the alleged decision that Kaine would run for Senate.
The DNC responded by denying any official announcement of Kaine's intention to run for election.
"Governor Kaine told his class today what is already widely known, which is that he is increasingly likely to run," DNC spokesperson Brad Woodhouse said in a statement released promptly after WINA issued its report. "However, no final decision will be made or announced until the governor has had a final round of consultations with folks."
Woodhouse also tweeted Monday afternoon that Kaine "did not tell law school class he was running, said likely which [has] been reported. No final decision pending other commitments."
Isaac Wood, communications director of the University Center for Politics and former Cavalier Daily opinion columnist, said this chain of events could affect Kaine's potential candidacy.
"It isn't the best situation for a candidate and his supporters to be engaged in a he-said, she-said battle about what actually happened," Wood said. "But I think it's a fumble that's easily recovered. I think it's been a conclusion for quite some time that Tim Kaine was closely considering to run, so I don't think that's a particular revelation. The real news is that Tim Kaine is now talking more openly about running."
If Kaine does run, and George Allen wins the Republican primary, Wood believes the race would receive plenty of attention because both possible candidates are nationally well-known former governors.
"I think Tim Kaine would have a good chance to win," Wood said, but he added this would depend on Obama's popularity in Virginia. "If Obama carries Virginia in 2012, you'd have to give Tim Kaine the edge in the Senate race."
Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics, agreed, tweeting Monday, "If Obama wins VA again, Kaine prob wins 2."
Sabato tweeted Monday, "Those who claimed hoax on Kaine class statement proven wrong," after the DNC confirmed, for the first time in public, that Kaine "has given game away on Senate run," according to Sabato's tweet.
Delaney, the Richmond student, is a host of "The Final Countdown," a radio show on WDCE. Kaine will speak on the program today, according to the show's website.
Read More
U.Va. researchers identify that HIV drugs can protect against Alzheimer’s disease
By Lauren Seeliger | 2 days agoDoctor Jayakrishna Ambati and his research team have begun work on a new drug called K9 which could treat and prevent Alzheimer’s.
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | 3 days agoMany students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
U.Va.’s Finals Weekend spotlights the achievement and service of the Class of 2025
By Leigh Bailey | 5 days agoIn University President Jim Ryan’s welcome address, he acknowledged the support of family members and friends present in the audience and beyond that played supportive roles in these graduates’ lives.
