Former Gov. Tim Kaine last week became Virginia's sole Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate race after potential rivals Julien Modica and Courtney Lynch withdrew from the race before petitions were due Thursday. The Democratic Party will no longer hold a primary since Kaine is the only Democratic candidate still in contention.
Geoff Skelley, media relations coordinator at the University's Center for Politics and former Cavalier Daily opinion columnist, said the departure of the other Democratic candidates from the contest is not surprising, considering Kaine's political clout as a former governor.
"When you have a former governor, it's an uphill battle for any candidate who want[s] to oppose him," Skelley said. "Once he got in, anyone else who was considering running got out."
It should not be too difficult for Kaine to gain the support of Lynch and Modica's followers, Skelley said, since only a "small number" would have voted for the other two candidates anyway.
Modica and Lynch have both endorsed Kaine to replace retiring Sen. Jim Webb.
"Anytime someone expresses interest in governing is always good, but we are happy to have their support," Kaine's Deputy Press Secretary Michael Kelly said.
The Republican Party will still hold a primary to determine its candidate - something Skelley said was a "little bit of a pain" for former Gov. George Allen, who is "by far the favorite" for the Republican nomination. The Republican primary will be held June 12. Allen faces three opponents in the primary: Tea Party darling Jamie Radtke, Del. Bob Marshall, R-Manassas, and pastor E. W. Jackson.
Allen is "in a position where he has to expose himself and burn some money that he'd prefer to save," Skelley said. "He can't totally focus on Kaine but [instead] has to focus on the primary," Skelley said, whereas Kaine only has to focus on campaigning for the November election.
"Kaine has been taking his campaign across the state, and we are hopeful that we will gain support of Democrats, independents and even Republicans," Kelly said.
University Democrats President James Schwab, a third-year College student, said Kaine did a "great job" as governor and will make a strong candidate to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
"Governor Kaine is well-respected in the state of Virginia," Schwab said. "Other candidates realized the party was strongest with a single nominee so that [Kaine] could focus on the general election."
Schwab is also a member of "Students for Kaine," a group launched Thursday which is composed of students across Virginia, according to a press release from Kaine's campaign.
"These dedicated young people will be an important part of the coalition that will elect Tim Kaine to the U.S. Senate this November," according to the press release.
Despite Kaine's de facto Democratic nomination, the election is still seven months away, so Skelley said this summer will feature even more political activity.
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