Despite a tongue-in-cheek video released by the Republican Party of Virginia “welcoming” former Gov. Tim Kaine back into the 2012 U.S. Senate race, Gov. Bob McDonnell and former Gov. George Allen both said Friday that Kaine would be a strong candidate if he chooses to run.

To the tune of “Welcome Back, Kotter,” the video shows newspaper headlines from the end of Kaine’s tenure as governor, and ones highlighting GOP gains in Virginia during Kaine’s time as head of the Democratic National Committee.