Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is “increasingly likely to run” for the Senate next year, the Democratic National Committee said Monday. Virginia Democrats have been waiting a month for Kaine, the current chairman of the DNC, to decide whether he’ll run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat.
The rumor mill was churning Monday afternoon after reports surfaced that Kaine had announced his intention to run to his law school class at the University of Richmond. A friend of two students in Kaine’s class called the Schilling Show on WINA radio and said Kaine told his students that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Senate.
The Collegian, the University of Richmond’s student newspaper, reported that Kaine told the class he was going to “give it a shot” after consulting with a variety of advisers. However, the DNC immediately denied that a final decision had been made.
“In response to a student’s question, Governor Kaine told his law school class today what is already widely known, which is that he is increasingly likely to run,” said DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse. “However, no final decision will be made or announced until the governor has had a final round of consultations with folks about how he can best serve the president, the people and the causes he cares about.”
The DNC’s statement is the firmest indication from the party or Kaine that he is likely to run. But in blurting out his intentions to his class, Kaine stepped on the drama and anticipation of a formal announcement, which will likely now occur sooner rather than later, according to Mark Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University.
“He’s been keeping people guessing for quite some time, and I think the guessing game is about over at this point,” Rozell said. “I don’t think he wanted the announcement to get out this way, of course … he’s usually a more disciplined politician than this.”
Among the Republicans expected to enter the Senate race are George Allen, a former governor and senator who lost only narrowly to Webb in 2006, and Jamie Radtke, a Virginia Tea Party leader.
Kaine quickly became the favorite among Virginia Democrats to replace Webb. Kaine had dismissed earlier suggestions that he run for the Senate, but that was before Webb announced in February he would not seek re-election in 2012, leaving an open seat.
“This wasn’t a decision he expected to have to make,” said Democratic strategist Mo Elleithee. “No one was really expecting the seat to be open, so he wasn’t seriously considering this race, so he’s taking some time to think about it.”
