In U.S. Senate bid, Kaine touts Va. experience

Ending two months of will-he-or-won't-he speculation, former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine quit his job as head of the Democratic National Committee and announced Tuesday he'll seek election to the U.S. Senate in 2012.

"I'm running for the United States Senate because America has big challenges, and I'm convinced that Virginia has answers to help strengthen our nation," Kaine said in a two-minute video posted at midday on his campaign website, www.kaineforva.com. "Thankfully, we still have a tradition of balance and civility here that is sadly disappearing from Washington.... When we attack common obstacles instead of each other, we solve problems and get things done."

Almost immediately after U.S. Sen. Jim Webb announced in February that he won't seek a second term, Kaine was asked if he would seek the party's nomination. As time passed, speculation built.

In mid-March, Twitter was abuzz over a report that Kaine had revealed his plans during a lecture at the University of Richmond, where he teaches part-time. National party officials downplayed the account.

Mo Elleithee, a campaign adviser, said Tuesday that Kaine wasn't trying to keep people guessing but needed to give his possible candidacy serious thought.

"To take six weeks to think through whether or not you want to take this plunge is totally legitimate," Elleithee said.

Kaine, 53, joins an already crowded field seeking to replace Webb.

Four Republican candidates are competing for their party's nomination in a June 2012 primary. The newest GOP hopeful is E.W. Jackson Sr., a Chesapeake-based minister and tea party activist who announced his candidacy Tuesday morning.

Jackson, 59, who is known for his fiery speeches at rallies condemning government as too large and invasive, said Tuesday that as a black man, he can counter any arguments that those who oppose President Barack Obama are bigots.

Others seeking the GOP nod are George Allen, a former senator and governor; David McCormick, a Virginia Beach attorney; and Jamie Radtke, the former leader of a state tea party group.

While no other Democrats have announced they will run, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott of Newport News said last month he's considering a bid. A spokesman for Scott said he had no comment about Kaine's news and would make his decision by July. Democratic Party leaders will determine this fall whether to choose their nominee in a primary or a convention next year.

Kaine's announcement was greeted with high praise by Democrats and deep scorn by several Republican contenders and party activists.

Both Webb, who has said he wants Kaine to replace him, and Sen. Mark Warner, also a Democrat and former governor, reiterated their support for him.

"As U.S. senator, he will continue to fight for economic fairness and accountable government - principles in which we both believe," Webb said.

Warner called him a "great friend and a proven leader."

Several Republicans called Kaine a "cheerleader" or "cheerleader in chief" for what they consider to be bad policies enacted by the Obama administration. While governor, Kaine was among the earliest state or federal elected leaders to endorse Obama's presidential bid.

"From the failed stimulus packages to the budget-busting spending bills that have increased our national debt at record levels, Kaine has been there every step of the way, making the case for a bigger and more intrusive federal government," Virginia GOP chairman Pat Mullins said.

Virginians don't want "another big spending senator in Washington, and that is exactly what Tim Kaine would be," he added.

In announcing his candidacy, Kaine, who also served as lieutenant governor and as a City Council member and mayor in Richmond, emphasized his experiences in Virginia as assets he could bring to Congress.

"As governor, I helped lead Virginia through the toughest economy in 70 years," Kaine said in the video. "We cut billions of dollars from the state budget, tightened our belt and made government more efficient."

Kaine presided over the passage of the ban on indoor smoking and sweeping mental health law reforms after the April 2007 shooting massacre at Virginia Tech.

But despite several attempts, he failed to get a comprehensive transportation funding plan adopted - a package approved in 2007 was largely invalidated later.

Critics contend Kaine's leadership style created those missed opportunities because he often failed to broker accords with political foes.

Kaine concluded his tenure as Virginia governor doing double duty as chairman of the national Democratic Party, a post that exposed him to sharp partisan criticism.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com