Webb would like Kaine to succeed him in U.S. Senate

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By Bill Bartel
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 17, 2011

WASHINGTON

Former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is reconsidering his initial reluctance to run for U.S. Sen. Jim Webb's Senate seat in 2012, officials said Wednesday.

Kaine also spoke by phone with President Barack Obama about the race, according to White House and Democratic Party officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.

Several Democratic officials said Kaine was weighing the decision and wants more time to think about it. They spoke on condition of anonymity because Kaine has not made a decision.

"I think his view is it's on the table right now and that he owes it to himself and to Virginia and the party to give it some thought," said one Democratic strategist familiar with Kaine's thinking. "Clearly he's thinking about it, and he's not a definitive no, or this would have been done already."

"I'd like to see Tim Kaine run," Webb said Wednesday.

Kaine, who is chairman of the Democratic National Committee, served as governor from 2006 to 2010. He also has been lieutenant governor and mayor of Richmond.

Two Republicans - George Allen, a former U.S. senator and governor, and Jamie Radtke, a leader in the state tea party movement - are seeking the GOP nomination, which will be decided in a June 2012 primary.

Pilot writer Bill Bartel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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webb wants rigell

Submitted by beach23451 on Thu, 02/17/2011 at 7:31 pm.

I heard thw Senator Webb would rellylike Congresssman Rigell to run.

Webb would like Kaine to succeed him in U.S. Senate

Submitted by shades011 on Thu, 02/17/2011 at 6:24 pm.

Those of you who support a run by former Governor Kaine for Senate ... do you really think the guy who closed our Rest Areas on the Interstates to balance the budget has a snowball's chance in Hades of getting elected????