Okay, Democrats: You can breathe now.
While Republicans were quick on the attack following Tim Kaine’s U.S. Senate announcement, Democrats welcomed him into the 2012 race with open arms.
“As governor he made Virginia the best state for business, the best-managed state and the best state in the country to raise a child for lifetime success, and he will make a fantastic candidate to replace Senator Jim Webb,” said Brian Moran, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Declaring that “today is a great day for the people of Virginia,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray added that “the Republicans have a real Tea Party primary on their hands, and George Allen has a long record of spending and debt that will be a major issue in this race.”
Kaine is widely seen by state and national Democrats as the party’s best chance to hold the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Jim Webb. Nearly everyone, from Moran to U.S. Sen. Mark Warner to state Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, have said publicly they hoped Kaine would run.
Still, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., is also mulling a bid. A spokesman for Scott declined to comment on Kaine’s announcement Tuesday, and said that Scott would decide whether to enter the race by July.
